Four in Hat charged with child sexual exploitation

By Sean Rooney on May 21, 2020.

Four men in Medicine Hat have been charged with child sexual exploitation following a string of seemingly unconnected investigations that resulted in arrests last week.
Members of the Medicine Hat Police Service and the provincial ALERT child exploration investigations unit made the announcement on Thursday morning stating that they have seen an increase in cases that involve child pornography and internet voyeurism and “luring” since the COVID pandemic began.
They attribute the increase to increased online time and stressed that online safety practices should taught to young people.
“I can’t emphasize enough the need to implement safe internet practices and know-how in order to protect our children,” said Supt. Dwayne Lakusta, the head of ALERT.
A release states “There is no definitive link between the suspects other than the nature of offences allegedly committed. Each of the men was charged with at least one child pornography offence.”
Among those charged in the recent local arrests are Thomas Bindr, 27, Blaine Vadnais, 78, Jeremy Unruh, 43, and Owen Michael Monteith, 34.
There was no breakdown of the charges, but police say at least one count has been levelled on each.
A total of 43 computers and electronic devices were searched.

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