ICE looking to identify victim of sexual offender

High Level… A Northern Alberta man is accused of committing a sexual assault against a young child, and ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit is turning to the community for help in identifying the victim.

Tobias (Toby) Hooka-Nooza was arrested on April 21, 2023 on the Bushe River Reservation near High Level, Alta. with the assistance of High Level RCMP and Western Alberta District RCMP. The 18-year-old man is accused of sexual assault and child pornography offences after officers discovered sexually explicit materials on his phone.

Some of the photos capture an alleged sexual assault of a toddler-aged child, or younger, by the accused. However, despite the best efforts of investigators and forensic technicians, ICE has been unsuccessful in locating the victim to date.

The photos would suggest the victim needs medical attention or intervention.

Additional evidence discovered in a preliminary forensic analysis on his seized electronic devices, would suggest Hooka-Nooza has been in contact with numerous people under the age of 18 that may have either exploited themselves sexually, or harmed themselves.

Anyone with information about this case, or believes their child was in the presence of Hooka-Nooza, is urged to contact High Level RCMP at 780-926-2226.

The case was first reported to ICE on April 19, 2023 by the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC). The suspect was allegedly uploading child exploitation materials through the social media application Discord.

Hooka-Nooza is charged with the following offences:

• Sexual assault;
• Sexual interference;
• Making child pornography;
• Transmitting child pornography;
• Possession of child pornography; and
• Accessing child pornography.

Hooka-Nooza was released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on June 5, 2023.

The investigation remains ongoing and more charges are anticipated. A forensic analysis of computers and electronic devices seized from this home is underway.

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.