UPDATED: 13 Suspects Arrested for Child Luring

Edmonton… Thirteen suspects have been arrested for child luring and similar offences following a series of investigations by ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit.

The arrests took place as part of an eight-month proactive initiative by the ICE unit that targeted suspects allegedly trying to arrange for sex with children. A total of 69 charges have been laid, with arrests taking place starting in February and as recently as October 11, 2018.

The arrests took place in Edmonton, St. Albert, Wainwright, Drayton Valley, Fort Saskatchewan, and Barrie, Ont. Three suspects based in the United States were also identified, and ICE has forwarded that information to its law enforcement counterparts south of the border.

None of the investigations are related other than the similar nature of the offences. The alleged crimes took place online, with a range of social media platforms and communications tools being used.

All of the suspects have been charged with at least child luring and/or attempted sexual assault against a child.

The suspects arrested include (number of charges in parentheses):

1. John Leskosky, a 42-year-old man from Wainwright (3);
2. Adam Turner, a 24-year-old man from Edmonton (5);
3. Steve Chaytor, a 51-year-old man from Edmonton (5);
4. Jonas Karadics, a 32-year-old man from Edmonton (3);
5. Wilson Misay, a 38-year-old man from Drayton Valley (6);
6. Jonathan Dahmer, a 31-year-old man from Edmonton (8);
7. Young offender from Fort Saskatchewan (3);
8. Timothy Olsen, a 37-year-old man from St. Albert (5);
9. Ryan Wiggins, a 44-year-old man from Edmonton (3);
10.  Dean Baker, a 51-year-old man from Edmonton (4);
11. Taille Marron, a 37-year-old man from Edmonton (16).
12. Yousef Ammar, a 42-year-old man from Drayton Valley (4); and
13. Travis Irwin, a 29-year-old man from Barrie, Ont. (4).

The ICE unit based in Edmonton is comprised of investigators from Edmonton Police Service and RCMP, as well as civilian forensic technicians. Nearly 50 computers and electronic devices were seized and analyzed as part of the arrests.

During the investigations and subsequent arrests, ICE worked in collaboration with a number of police agencies, including: Wainwright RCMP; St. Albert RCMP; Drayton Valley RCMP; Fort Saskatchewan RCMP; Edmonton Police Service; Barrie Police Service; and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

Anyone with information about this investigation or any child exploitation offence is encouraged to contact local police or cybertip.ca.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime. Members of Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.

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