Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, Digital Forensics Unit and Hawkesbury detachment members have arrested and charged a resident following a child sexual exploitation investigation.
On February 10, 2023, police executed a search warrant in Hawkesbury and seized a quantity of su spected drugs and electronic devices. As a result of this investigation, Andrew SMITH, 35 years of age, was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of Child Pornography, as per section 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code
- Fail to Comply with a Release Order, as per section 145(5)(a) of the Criminal Code
- Possession of a Schedule III Substance, as per Section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act
- Possession of a Schedule I Substance, as per section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act – three counts
The accused remains in custody following a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear on February 14, 2023 at the Ontario Court of Justice in L’Orignal.
Children are our most valuable and precious members of society. Many victims of child sexual abuse are so young that they cannot tell their story. Every time an image or video depicting that abuse is shared, that child is re-victimized.
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