An Estevan resident was among eight Saskatchewan men arrested in a child pornography sting, Saskatchewan RCMP announced today.
An Estevan resident was among eight Saskatchewan men arrested in a child pornography sting, Saskatchewan RCMP announced today.
According to a press release from the Saskatoon Police Service, Barry Jefferson, is facing charges of accessing child pornography, possession of child pornography and making available child pornography. According to the release, Mark Nordgulen of Arcola was also arrested and faces the same charges.
The release said the arrests followed a three month investigation that included members of the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation unit and the Canadian Police Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Search warrants were executed between March 26 and June 6.
Each of the eight men have already made their first court appearance and the investigation into the matter is ongoing. It was also noted that at this point, investigators have found no connection between the men or the children in the abuse images.
For more on the story please see Wednesday's edition of the Estevan Mercury.
The entire release is included below:
Members from the Saskatchewan ICE Unit and CPCMEC (Canadian Police Centre for Missing and Exploited Children) initiated an on line pro-active investigation on the Internet into the activities pertaining to the possession and distribution of child abuse images in the Province of Saskatchewan. Between March 26, 2013 and June 6, 2013, police executed 8 search warrants resulting in 8 men being charged. Several locations in the Province were identified, including Estevan, Rosetown, Regina, Saskatoon, Arcola, and Air Ronge.
The men range in age from 24 years old to 56 years old. Numerous computers and other electronic media devices were seized by police. The investigations are ongoing, which will include a detailed forensic analysis on all of the equipment seized. All men have appeared in court and are on release conditions while their matters proceed through the court process.
At this point, there is no connection between the charged men or the children found in the abuse images.
Charged were:
Barry JEFFERSON, D.O.B.- August 30, 1979, of Estevan- Accessing Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography and Make Available Child Pornography
Doug Varty, D.O.B.- February 24, 1957, of Rosetown - Accessing Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography and Make Available Child Pornography
Marcel BEUKER, D.O.B.-April 3, 1989, of Saskatoon- Possession of Child Pornography
Phoenix HUNTER, D.O.B.- October 4, 1972 of Saskatoon- Accessing Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography and Make Available Child Pornography.
Mark NORDGULEN, D.O.B.- December 24, 1966, of Arcola- Accessing Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, Make available Child Pornography
Steven FIESSEL, D.O.B.- October 21, 1960, of Regina- Accessing Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography and Make available Child Pornography
Tyson HALKETT, D.O.B.- December 4, 1985, of Air Ronge, - Possession of Child Pornography
Branden PLATKA, D.O.B.- June 14, 1987, of Regina- Accessing Child Pornography, Possession Child Pornography and Make Available Child Pornography
The Saskatchewan ICE Unit is comprised of investigators from the R.C.M.P., Regina Police Service, Saskatoon Police Service and Prince Albert Police Service. Their mandate is to investigate crimes involving the abuse and/or exploitation of children on the Internet.
