Sylvan Lake doctor of 30 years facing child pornography charges
A 62-year-old Sylvan Lake family doctor and associate university professor has been charged with making and distributing child pornography, say Alberta police investigators.
A man was engaged in sexually explicit conversations dating back to last October with a person he met online. The talks led to the accused eventually trying to arrange sex with a five-year-old girl, said Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) investigators, part of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT).
The accused thought he was trying to arrange access to his online acquaintance’s young daughter but was corresponding with a Victoria Police Department undercover operator, said police in a Friday news release.
Fred Janke, a doctor in Sylvan Lake for 30 years, is charged with making arrangements to commit sexual offences against a child, making child pornography, and distribution of child pornography.
The investigation has found “nothing to indicate” whether patients were harmed, said ALERT Staff Sgt. Stephen Camp at a news conference Friday.
Searches on devices related to the case will be carried out going forward, Camp said.
Janke was arrested Thursday at a residence in Edmonton and was said to be co-operative in his arrest.
WITHDREW FROM PRACTICE
Janke withdrew from practising as a doctor after being asked by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) Friday.
Steve Buick, CPSA spokesperson, said the college isn’t contacting Janke’s patients because there “must be a good clinical reason to reach out to patients directly.”
ALERT is also not reaching out to individual patients for the time being.
“One of the things about child sex abuse is that sometimes a child … might not be prepared to come forward yet,” he said. “It’s a difficult process and we’re aware of that. We’re not going to go out asking victims who aren’t ready. We will wait.”
No representative from the Sylvan Family Health Centre would comment Friday.
While the investigation and charges are related strictly to online offences, ICE is encouraging anyone with information about this case to come forward and contact police or go to cybertip.ca.
A statement from the University of Alberta Friday said Janke remains an employee but did not comment further.
Janke was listed as an associate professor with the University of Alberta’s department of family medicine. His online profile said he is a member of the Integrated Health Institute and directs the rural branch of the faculty’s division of community engagement.
His online university profile was not accessible late Friday afternoon.
In 2009, Janke received a fellowship from the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada. He was awarded for his work by the Canadian College of Family Physicians in 2002, and by the Professional Association of Residents of Alberta for his work in 2003.
He was named Outstanding Clinician of the Year for central Alberta’s David Thompson Health Region in 2000.
At the news conference, Camp said he “got word Janke would be released right away.” A court hearing has not been scheduled.
Janke is prohibited from possessing laptops or personal computers, using the internet unless at a designated workplace, using internet cafes or communicating with children. He is not allowed to work in positions that place him in a position of trust or authority over a minor.
He is also not allowed within 100 metres of a public park, swimming pool, daycare, school, playground, or community centre.