Cochrane man charged with child sexual exploitation offences

COCHRANE- A Cochrane man is facing child pornography charges in Alberta.

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit arrested the man on Dec. 5 at his Cochrane home with the help of Cochrane RCMP, noted an ALERT press release issued Friday.  

The 19-year-old, whose identity is subject to a court imposed publication ban, has been charged with distributing, accessing, and possessing child pornography, as well as three charges in relation to failing to comply with a release order.

Police said they seized a number of computers and electronic devices from the suspect’s home.

Forensic analysis and evidence recovery is underway and the investigation will remain ongoing, police said.

ICE opened its investigation in October 2023 when the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Center provided information about an Alberta-based suspect repeatedly sharing child sexual abuse materials via Snapchat.

Anyone with information about either of these cases or any child exploitation situation is asked to contact their local police, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

This story has been updated to remove the offender's name as the court has now imposed a publication ban related to the case.