Winnipeg magician facing child porn charges also an educational assistant
Children's entertainer Dan the Magic Man remains in custody on multiple charges, police say
A Winnipeg educational assistant who worked as a children's entertainer has been charged with making child pornography, shocking officials at local schools and child-care centres who have booked him to perform in the past.
Daniel Kamenicky, 39, is charged with making child pornography, possessing child pornography, distributing child pornography and voyeurism. A magician, Kamenicky performs under the name Dan the Magic Man.
He remains in police custody.
Kamenicky was employed as an educational assistant at Windsor School, a kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Elm Park. Principal Kenneth Bartel confirmed he has been suspended from the Louis Riel School Division.
"I am in shock," she said.
"My kids were in contact only once ... with teachers around them so I'm not very concerned about my kids, but still, I don't like the feeling. I really don't like the feeling."
Kamenicky also worked multiple times with the University of Manitoba's Mini U program, including for two weeks this summer from July 11-15 and from July 25-29.
In a letter sent to parents, the university said Kamenicky worked with the Magic Mania camp. The university said a criminal background check of Kamenicky it commissioned before hiring him came back clean.
Public information officer Jason Michalyshen said the making child pornography charge against Kamenicky is related to voyeurism. Police do not believe Kamenicky made physical contact with children while making the pornography, he said.
Videos were recorded "out in the community," Michalyshen said.
Investigators tracked down Kamenicky using IP addresses provided by the American group National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Police allege the IP addresses connected to Kamenicky were used between June 13 and Aug. 11, 2016, to upload pornographic images and videos.
Michalyshen said police are not releasing information about the number of potential victims, but they are girls age six to 10.
School division 'devastated' by arrest
Duane Brothers, superintendent of Louis Riel School Division, said he has received more than a dozen calls from panicked parents who may have come into contact with Kamenicky.
"These are caregivers, these are parents. They're concerned. They're worried," said Brothers.
The superintendent said he is unsure of how long Kamenicky has worked at Windsor School — possibly between five and six years. He previously worked at Marion School.
Brothers said he's "devastated" and is working with the Winnipeg Police Service.
"I'm a dad. I'm a public educator. We have 15,000 students. Our number one job is to look after our kids and make sure that they're safe," he said.
'I am actually literally shaking'
Ken Sawatzky, a local magician who knows Kamenicky, said the two had a professional relationship and would refer clients to one another if they were unavailable to take a booking.
Sawatzky said he was deeply shocked by the arrest.
"I am actually literally shaking to know what's happening and I keep pinching myself thinking, 'Wake up, this is not happening.' I just really don't know what to say," he said.
"I am just hoping this is all a misunderstanding. I don't know what is happening and I don't have much details. I hope that nobody was hurt. And if anybody was hurt that they find a way to heal and that they can find a way to recover from what's happened."
Michel Dedieu of Morris Entertainment said he has promoted Kamenicky for about the past five years.
"I'm blindsided by it, because I've known him on a professional level, and a little bit on a personal level," he said.
"Never had any weird vibes from people ... I never heard anything negative on him at all."
Police urge victims to come forward
Investigators have not "closed the door" on the possibility some of the victims were related to Kamenicky's work as a children's entertainer.
Police said they continue to analyze several seized electronic devices that belong to Kamenicky.
"I can tell you we have not completely gone through all of those electronic devices. There is potentially more images or videos that we have to go through," said public information officer Michalyshen.
"We take these matters incredibly seriously."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Winnipeg police internet child exploitation unit or Crime Stoppers, Michalyshen said.
"No one should feel afraid to come forward. No one should feel embarrassed to come forward," he said.
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