Child Sex Tourism Charges Laid Against Fort McMurray Man

Fort McMurray… A lengthy ALERT investigation with Ireland’s national police service has resulted in child sex tourism charges against a Fort McMurray man, who offended on an underage victim in Ireland.

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation unit, an integrated team consisting of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP members, concluded the investigation on December 9 with the arrest of a 33-year-old Fort McMurray man. Jashua Robert Tremblay has been charged with sexual interference (x 2), luring, and child sex tourism.

This is the first time ALERT has laid charges under child sex tourism, which was added to the Canadian Criminal Code in 1997. Under the code, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can be prosecuted in Canada for certain sexual offences committed against children in other countries.

ALERT alleges that Tremblay twice travelled to Ireland to have sex with a girl he met on the internet. The alleged offenses date back to late 2013 when the victim was 13 years old.

Ireland’s Garda Síochána first became aware of the offences and opened an investigation in late 2013. The RCMP National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre in Ottawa became involved in February 2014 and referred the file to ALERT. ALERT undertook the complex process of attempting to identify the suspect, which they were able to confirm recently and make an arrest.

At this point of the investigation, ICE investigators do not believe any Albertans were victimized. However, anyone with information about this investigation, or any child exploitation offence is encouraged to contact police or cybertip.ca.

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