Former camp counsellor arrested

Man, 19, faces child-porn charges

A 19-year-old man who worked as a counsellor at a camp operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton has been charged with distribution and possession of child pornography.

The Sherwood Park man was arrested at his home Sept. 6 after a nine-month RCMP and ALERT investigation, Strathcona County RCMP said in a news release Monday afternoon.

The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children first provided information to the RCMP about the man last January, the release said.

The man previously worked as a camp counsellor and volunteer programmer at Camp Encounter in Barrhead County, which is owned and operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.

Investigators said in the release they have no evidence to suggest any offences were committed against children who attended the camp near Lac La Nonne. The man didn’t have access to camp computers.

“However, given the seriousness of this charge, the accused will no longer be considered for any volunteer or employment role in the archdiocese,” the statement from the RCMP said.

The charges are related to online offences only, the release said, but the province’s internet Child Exploitation unit is asking anyone with information about the case to contact RCMP.

Tanner Porteous was released with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 19.