Charges Laid Against Southern Ontario Resident in Chapleau-Area Child Luring

A southern Ontario man is facing multiple charges over accusations of child luring involving youth in the Chapleau area.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say the investigation dates back to May 30th, when officers in Chapleau received a report that sexually explicit images were being received by youth through social media, with subsequent investigation revealing victims ranged from 13 to 17 years of age, resulting in the arrest of a 24-year-old in Haldimand County last Tuesday.

He's been charged with: eight counts of luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication; three counts of luring a person under 18 years of age by means of telecommunication; two counts each of indecent exposure to a person under 16 years of age and making sexually explicit material available to a person under 16 years of age; and one count each of transmitting sexually explicit material to a person under 18 years of age and communicating with anyone under 18 years of age for the purpose of obtaining sexual services.

The accused has been released from custody, but is scheduled to appear in Chapleau's Ontario Court of Justice in February.

OPP are reminding parents to educate their children about online safety, monitor their online activities as much as possible, and ensure your children are comfortable coming to you or someont they trust with incidents of this nature so they can be dealt with by investigators.