Canadian Corrections Officer Arrested in Unusual Kiddie Porn Case
Jim Kouri, CPP
December 08, 2006
A 26-year-old corrections officer was arrested on Canadian child pornography charges in Toronto Friday afternoon after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents responded to an enforcement tip provided by operators working for an adult phone sex line based in central California.
Matthew Hughes, of Toronto, was arrested by the Toronto Police Department and charged in Canada with possession and distribution of child pornography, as well as sexual interference with a person under 14. Hughes is an officer for the Canadian Ministry of Correctional Services.
The unusual investigation began after ICE agents received a call from a detective with the Woodlake, California Police Department who had been contacted by two female telephone sex operators. The women reported they had been communicating with Hughes via e-mail, and that, at one point, Hughes transmitted a live Web camera broadcast depicting himself sexually assaulting his seven-year-old daughter.
ICE issued a summons for subscriber information for the e-mail address provided by police in Woodlake. Based on the information obtained as a result of the summons and further investigation, ICE agents were able to quickly provide the Toronto Police Department with images of the alleged subject, as well as photographs, and other investigative leads.
Those who engage in the exploitation of children should no longer expect the anonymity of cyberspace or ordinary citizens to protect them,” said Brian Poulsen, resident agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations in Fresno.
ICE will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, here and abroad, to protect our children from relatives, friends, and strangers who attempt to sexually exploit them.”
Matthew Hughes, of Toronto, was arrested by the Toronto Police Department and charged in Canada with possession and distribution of child pornography, as well as sexual interference with a person under 14. Hughes is an officer for the Canadian Ministry of Correctional Services.
The unusual investigation began after ICE agents received a call from a detective with the Woodlake, California Police Department who had been contacted by two female telephone sex operators. The women reported they had been communicating with Hughes via e-mail, and that, at one point, Hughes transmitted a live Web camera broadcast depicting himself sexually assaulting his seven-year-old daughter.
ICE issued a summons for subscriber information for the e-mail address provided by police in Woodlake. Based on the information obtained as a result of the summons and further investigation, ICE agents were able to quickly provide the Toronto Police Department with images of the alleged subject, as well as photographs, and other investigative leads.
Those who engage in the exploitation of children should no longer expect the anonymity of cyberspace or ordinary citizens to protect them,” said Brian Poulsen, resident agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations in Fresno.
ICE will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, here and abroad, to protect our children from relatives, friends, and strangers who attempt to sexually exploit them.”
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