In January 2017 Manitoba RCMP were alerted by the National Child Exploitation Coordinator Centre of a child pornography image that had been uploaded to the social media app KIK. The owner of the IP address was located in Churchill, Manitoba

An investigation was immediately launched and during the course of the investigation, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Churchill, where devices were seized. After examining the evidence, it was determined that the suspect had also sexually assaulted an adult female while she was unconscious.

Joshua Proulx, 21, of Churchill, was charged with several child pornography charges as well as Sexual Assault and Voyeurism.

On October 23, 2018, Proulx pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to two years less a day for the sexual assault and six months for the voyeurism.

In May 2017, the NCECC sent information to the Manitoba RCMP about child pornography uploaded to Google + Images with an IP address in Flin Flon, Manitoba that belonged to Darwyn Wasylciw. ICE officers attended the residence and arrested Wasylciw, who was found to be in possession of a device that could connect to the Internet, in breach of his probation.

Wasylciw, 21, pled guilty to breaching his probation as well as possessing and accessing child pornography. He was sentenced to two years, less a day and was given a 20-year Sex Offender Information Registration Act order, meaning police have access to information provided by sexual offenders required to register.

“Manitoba RCMP ICE Unit investigators work tirelessly on extremely difficult and sensitive cases,” said Sgt. Steve Rear, head of the ICE Unit. “We cannot always talk about what we are investigating because our first priority is always the victim, but we are working hard to see these offenders end up in court and are held accountable for their actions.”

If you or anyone you know is a victim or knows of instances where children are being exploited online, contact your police force of jurisdiction or Cypertip.ca.