Angus, Barrie, Bradford males caught in child sexual abuse cases 

 

Posted March 6, 2025​

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Three males from Barrie, including a 15-year-old, a male from Bradford, and one from Angus, were among 40 individuals arrested as part of Project Steel, "a coordinated national operation to identify and apprehend those who prey on children" OPP announced this afternoon.​

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"Police services participating in the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy) played a key role in this operation," according to the press release. "Investigators worked proactively and reactively to identify individuals making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. Victims were identified and safeguarded, and victim support was provided to those who were impacted."

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Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy results from Project Steel: 

•                   31 victims identified 

•                   20 children safeguarded 

•                   40 individuals arrested 

•                   151 charges laid 

•                   686 electronic devices seized

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A 39-year-old male from Barrie was charged with three counts Agreement or Arrangement sexual offence against a child; a 70-year-old male from Bradford was charged with two counts each of child porn possession, access child porn, and make child porn available; A 40-year-old male from Angus, a 22-year-old from Barrie, and a 15-year-old from Barrie, were charged with possession of child porn.

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"Notably, during the investigation, a repeat violent offender, who had previously served a significant prison sentence for sexual offences, was arrested again. Analysis of seized devices uncovered evidence of a sexual assault on a child in a public space and the online victimization of dozens of unidentified children."