Four area men busted in national child-porn sting

Eight Alberta men have been arrested in a national child pornography investigation which saw 150 total arrests, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team announced Thursday.

The investigation, known as Operation Snapshot III, resulted in five children across the country removed from harm, as well as two million images and videos seized.

The operation was co-ordinated by the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Co-ordination Centre and included assistance from 40 police agencies Canadawide.

Charged with possession, accessing and making child pornography available are 37-year-old Mark Perry of Edmonton, 25-year-old Enoch First Nations man Alex Morin, and Stanley Skotniczny, 68, of Camrose. Lance Thorburn, 43, of Wetaskwin, also faces charges. The other four Alberta men are from Calgary, Stavely and Didsbury.

The investigation started in February and targeted child sex offenders who collect, share, possess, make available, distribute and produce child exploitation material online, the RCMP said. A total of 167 investigations were conducted through the operation, and police seized hundreds of computers and hard drives.

“Prevention is key in combating Internet-facilitated child sexual exploitation,” said Supt. John Bilinski, of the Canadian Police Centre for Missing and Exploitation Children/Behavioural Sciences Branch. “Empowering children, parents, friends and teachers on how to combat Internet predators can make a difference.”

The RCMP also led similar investigations in 2012 and 2013, named Operation Snapshot and Operation Snapshot II, respectively, however this was the first national endeavour. On June 26 last year, it was announced that two children had been rescued from harm and 22 people were arrested across Atlantic Canada, in an investigation that began in April 2013.

In 2012, Operation Snapshot targeted Western Canada, and led to the arrests of four Albertans, including one from Edmonton. During that sting, there were 21 people total arrested, and the investigation helped free a Saskatchewan boy from years of abuse. During that operation, Det. Justin Brookes of the Calgary Police said they were looking for suspects who normally wouldn’t be reported to them.