A Barrie man was charged on Thursday following a four-month investigation that connected him with the possession, access, and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
The Barrie Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) began the investigation after receiving reports regarding the distribution of the illegal material via the social media on Discord and X.
On June 3, police executed a search warrant at a Barrie residence and seized several computers that belonged to the accused.
Police say subsequent forensic analysis and categorization uncovered hundreds of files of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
The 21-year-old man from Barrie is facing three separate charges for possessing, accessing, and distributing of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
"Protecting children from predators is a shared responsibility that starts with awareness," the Barrie Police Service stated in a media release. "It’s important to understand that individuals online may not always be who they claim to be. Encourage children to speak with a trusted adult if someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or makes inappropriate requests or demands."
