A Langford man has been charged with child-exploitation offences, including child-luring, after allegedly using social media to lure female youths to produce child sexual-abuse material.
In May, the sa国际传媒 Prosecution Service approved seven charges against 31-year-old Jae Alexander Hegan, including two counts of child luring.
The charges follow an investigation involving the sa国际传媒 RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and West Shore RCMP.
The case began last September when Homeland Security Investigations told the sa国际传媒 child-exploitation unit about a sa国际传媒 man believed to be engaged in child exploitation on social media.
The sa国际传媒 unit was able to identify a male who allegedly lured three female youths online and used them to produce child sexual-abuse material that was made available on the internet.
The child-exploitation unit and West Shore RCMP executed a search warrant at a Langford home in January and a man was arrested.
Hegan has also been charged with making or publishing child pornography, making child pornography available, possessing and accessing child pornography, and make sexually explicit material available to a person under the age of 16.
He has since been released with conditions controlling his access to the internet and to children under 16.
sa国际传媒 Integrated Child Exploitation Unit Staff Sgt. Natalie Davis said the case highlights the importance of cross-border co-operation in combating these crimes.
“Predators are online and accessing our youth at home, in the privacy of their bedrooms,” she said in a statement. “It is important for adults to have conversations with the youths in their lives about how to stay safe online.”
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is being released now that the case is before the courts.
