Eight-Year-Old Helps the Long Arm of the Law

A phone call from an eight-year-old in West Hants resulted in the arrest of a California man.

The saga began in May of 2023 when West Hants RCMP received two calls from an eight-year-old reporting that someone was threatening the child and his/her family if they did not send intimate images through a social platform.

Police collected evidence from the home computer that clearly showed the child was being extorted for intimate photos.

The investigation confirmed the suspect’s IP address and its origin in California.

Investigators with the United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) joined the hunt.

In May of this year, HSI Sacramento arrested a 38-year-old man in California who admitted to victimising more than 20 children, including the child who courageously reported the incident in West Hants.

The RCMP encourages citizens to be a voice for children who are victims of sexual exploitation by reporting any suspected offences to their local police or by using Canada's National tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children at www.cybertip.ca. 

Survivor supports are available, including through Victim Services.

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