Ex-tennis instructor faces new child porn, luring charges
A former Kentville tennis instructor faces more sex charges after he was arrested in Dartmouth on March 23.
Aaron Byron Cumberland, 31, has been charged with possession of child pornography, luring a child, making child pornography, making available child pornography, obstructing a peace officer while engaged in the lawful execution of their duty, failing to comply with release order and failing to comply with probation order.
Cumberland appeared for a bail hearing via video in Halifax provincial court March 24.
Judge Aleta Cromwell said she hoped to release her decision on bail the following day. The details were not available before press time.
A Nova Scotia Supreme
Court jury found Cumberland guilty in October 2020 on charges of internet luring, invitation to sexual touching and making sexually explicit material available to a minor. The charges all involved a former tennis student.
In January, he was charged with four counts of violating a probation order related to that conviction.
Three of the charges allege Cumberland had contact with someone under the age of 16, while the other charge alleges prohibited use of the internet.
The offences were allegedly committed in Halifax between July 2021 and March 24.
The charges related to the March 23 arrest were made by investigators in the internet child exploitation unit of the Halifax Regional Police (HRP)/RCMP integrated criminal investigation (ICE) unit.
“Investigators believe there may be other victims within the Halifax region and throughout Nova Scotia,” an HRP news release said. “We are reaching out to offer support and encourage victims to contact police.
“We want victims to know that they can contact us and discuss an incident before making a decision to further participate in the investigation and court process.”
Victims can contact the integrated ICE unit directly at 902-490-3875 or email halifaxice@halifax.ca.
To file a report and have an officer follow up, call 902-490-5020. If safety is of immediate concern, people should call 911.
Anyone with information on child pornography is asked to file a report by calling police at 902-490-5020 or by using Cybertip, Canada's National Tip Line for reporting online sexual exploitation of children, at www.cybertip. ca.