KENNETCOOK, N.S.
A tip from an elementary school in California has led to the arrest of a Kennetcook man on child pornography charges.
Matthew Tyler White, 25, was arrested at his home on Thursday without incident by the RCMP’s Provincial Child Exploitation Unit (ICE), a spokesperson said, in a news release. He has been charged with luring a child, invitation to sexual touching and accessing child pornography.
White appeared in provincial court in Shubenacadie where he was released on conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 15.
The ICE Unit was assisted in their search of White’s home by the RCMP’s Technological Crime Unit, Special Tactical Operations Team and the East Hants District RCMP.
The release said investigators were directed to the residence after they were contacted by the Vacaville Police Department in Northern California that an elementary school student was being sexually exploited online by a man in Kennetcook.
In Nova Scotia it is mandatory for citizens to report suspected child pornography. This means that anyone who encounters child pornography material or recordings must report it to the police.
Failing to report suspicious activity and materials could result in penalties similar to failure to report child abuse set out in the Child and Family Services Act. The RCMP encourages citizens to be a voice for children who are victims of sexual exploitation by reporting any suspected offences to your local police or by using Canada’s National tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children at www.cybertip.ca.
