Police say, in December of 2015, members of the Grimsby Uniform Patrol Detachment of the Niagara Regional Police Service, and members of the Internet Child Exploitation Unit began investigating a Child Exploitation Incident.
As a result of the month long investigation, a St. Catharines man was identified as the suspect in the matter involving a young victim.
On Wednesday, January 20th, 2016, members of the Niagara Regional Police Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit arrested 20 year old Leo GOUGH-HOPE in relation to the incident.
Leo GOUGH-HOPE is charged with:
1) Luring a person under the age of 18 years of age to faciliate the commission of the offence of Making Child Pornography Sec. 172.1(1)(a) Criminal Code of Canada.
2) Exposure Section 173(2) Criminal Code of Canada.
3) Luring a person under the age of 16 years of age to facilitate the commission of the offence of Exposure Sec. 172.1(1)(b) Criminal Code of Canada.
4) Luring a person under the age of 16 years of age to facilitate the commission of the offence of Sexual Interference Sec. 172.1(1)(b) Criminal Code of Canada.
5) Luring a person under the age of 16 years of age to facilitate the commission of the offence of Invitation to Sexual Touching Sec. 172.1(1)(b) Criminal Code of Canada.
GOUGH-HOPE is being held in custody pending a bail hearing which is to take place on January 21st, 2016 at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse located at 59 Church Street, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Members of the Niagara Regional Police Service Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit are asking any members of the public who have any information in relation to this incident to please contact Detective Dave Biggar at (905) 688-4111 .
The Niagara Regional Police Service, Internet Child Exploitation Unit are members of The Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. The Provincial Strategy was created in 2006, in response to the Provincial Governments request that Police develop a coordinated province wide approach to combating Internet crimes against children.
The Provincial Strategy is jointly supported by the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
Members of the public can report suspicious Internet activities involving children to the Niagara Regional Police Service or at www.cybertips.ca. Internet safety tips for parents and children are available on the Cybertip website.
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