WATCH: Two Greater Victoria men are facing charges for child luring after two separate investigations by Victoria police. The investigations were carried out by their lone child exploitation detective who said he’s only scratching the surface of what’s out there. April Lawrence reports.
Victoria police say multiple charges are being recommended against two men following investigations by the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) investigator.
A 61-year-old man from Esquimalt was arrested following an investigation that was sparked in June of last year when West Shore RCMP received information of possible child luring over the internet.
Authorities say the victim lived in the West Shore, but they determined the suspect to be in Esquimalt.
The dedicated ICE investigator looked into the suspect’s online activity and a search warrant was executed Nov. 14 in Esquimalt by members of the VicPD Victims Unit, Forensic Identification Section, Integrated Tech Crime Unit and Patrol officers.
Charges being recommended against the man include:
- Luring a child under 16 years old
- Making child pornography
- Possession of child pornography
- Luring a child under 14 years old
- Making sexually explicit material available to a child
- Agreement or arrangement for sexual offence against a child
- Distribution of child pornography, and
- Counselling an offence that is not committed (sexual interference)
The man was released from custody with multiple conditions and on a promise to appear in court.
In another investigation, police began looking at the activity of a 28-year-old man Nov. 1.
Police say the ICE officer found it clear the man wanted to sexually abuse a child.
A meeting was set up Nov. 8 and when the suspect arrived at the apartment building, he was met by multiple officers and arrested.
The man faces one charge of luring a child under 16-years-old.
Victoria police also discovered he had been in Canada illegally since 2004 and investigators are working with Canada Border Services Agency to determine the man’s future.
Court records show the 28-year-old man is Gurpreet Singh. He is from India and remains in the custody of the Canada Border Services Agency on an immigration warrant. He was not previously known to police.
His next court appearance is November 29, 2018.
CHEK News
