RCMP urge parents to put computers in open areas at home
CBC News | Posted: May 7, 2015 1:54 PM | Last Updated: May 7, 2015
Investigators trying to identify 2,000 boys younger than 16 who were sexually exploited online
A child pornography investigator is encouraging parents to put computers in well-travelled areas of the home after dealing with a case where a Moncton man may have filmed as many as 2,000 boys under the age of 16 performing sexual acts.
RCMP Sgt. Jean Marc Paré said having computers in places like a child's bedroom or a quiet basement increases the chances for such crimes to occur.
"Obviously these youths had the opportunity to be alone on their computers to perform these sexual acts," said Paré, who is with the RCMP's internet child exploitation unit in New Brunswick.
"Had those opportunities not been available to them, a lot of these crimes wouldn't have happened."
Man posed as teenage girl to entice boys
RCMP believe a 24-year-old Moncton man posed as a young female online, using video of an unknown female performing sexual acts to entice boys between 10 and 16 years of age to perform sexual acts. The man then filmed the boys and distributed the videos to others.
Police are now searching for the victims, who they believe are in countries around the world including Canada, the United States, Europe, Russia and Australia.
"We encourage parents to make sure your computers are in open places where many family members have access to and don't let your kids have access to computers in private areas of the home — in their bedrooms or basement or other places like that," said Paré.
Don't let your kids have access to computers in private areas of the home — in their bedrooms or basement or other places like that. - RCMP Sgt. Jean Marc Paré
"I know that these boys obviously were left alone to perform sexual acts on a computer. I can't image a parent letting their child do that if they were in the area."
"I realize it's unreasonable to think that parents could be with their children 24 hours a day, but you know there has to be that open communication with your children," he said. "Be involved in what they're doing online, be aware of where they're going, what sites they're on."
"Talk to them and hopefully they can open up to you if they do sense that there is some sort of a problem or something that's stressing them on the internet and you can intervene and help them at that time."
The Moncton man has been in custody since February. He is facing charges including possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, touching a person under the age of 14 for a sexual purpose and sexual assault. Other charges are expected as the investigation continues and more victims are identified, said Paré.
The man can not be identified due to a court-ordered publication ban.
Worldwide search for victims
RCMP are now trying to identify as many victims as possible to assist in the investigation and to see that they receive any help necessary after being victimized, he said.
"Many of them we won't be able to identify, but we'll try and do as many as we can," he said.
When potential victims are identified, they will be contacted by their local police.
"We've identified kids from around the world, so we're reaching out to those police departments to assist us in ensuring these kids are spoken to and their parents are spoken to and that their kids are provided the care they need."