Lethbridge man faces child porn charges

A man is in custody and facing voyeurism and child pornography charges for allegedly filming adults and children in a Lethbridge pool change room.

Law enforcement officials say an 18-year-old Lethbridge man was arrested on Thursday at the University of Lethbridge’s Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Mike Tucker, communications director for the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), said police were made aware of the incident after pool staff became suspicious of the man and contacted police.

ALERT’s internet child exploitation unit said the man was filming people inside the pool’s change room area while it was being used by a youth swim club, whose participants ranged from five to 18 years old.

“While it took place at a university, it was while a community swim club was using the change room,” Tucker said. “So we’re talking about children who were using it, so he was making child pornography, essentially.”

The suspect was in custody and made his first court appearance on Friday afternoon.

Police from Lethbridge and Medicine Hat executed a search warrant at the man’s home, where they seized a number of computers and electronic devices.

The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been laid, but investigators have recommended the man be charged with voyeurism, possession of child pornography, accessing child pornography and making child pornography.