A 25-year-old Kennetcook was arrested this week by the RCMP's provincial child exploitation (ICE) unit and is facing child pornography charges.
On Jan. 11, the RCMP's ICE unit searched a home in Kennetcook, assisted by the RCMP's technological crime unit, special tactical operations team and East Hants District RCMP.
Investigators were directed to the residence after they were contacted by the Vacaville Police Department in Northern California. The police force indicated that an elementary school student was being sexually exploited online by a man in Kennetcook.
Matthew Tyler White, 25, was arrested at his home without incident. He has been charged with luring a child, invitation to sexual touching and accessing child pornography. He was brought before court in Shubenacadie, were he was released on conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 15.
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 tip line for reporting online sexual exploitation of children at www.cybertip.ca.
