BONNYVILLE – After a lengthy investigation, RCMP arrested a Bonnyville resident in connection to charges of child pornography on July 18.
A division of Alberta’s Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) launched an investigation into the 56-year-old Bonnyville resident in February after information led police to believe the man, Andrew Misiak, was in possession of child pornography.
The specialized unit that carried out the investigation was the Northern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit (NAICE) in conjunction with members from the Bonnyville RCMP detachment.
Following his arrest, Misiak has been charged with possessing child pornography and transmitting child pornography.
Misiak was taken before a Justice of the Peace and released on several conditions with his next court appearance date set for Aug. 16, at Bonnyville Provincial Court.
In response to an inquiry by LakelandTODAY, RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff provided release conditions imposed on Misiak that are in the public's best interest to be aware of.
Misiak must not to be in possession of any device capable of accessing the internet. He is not to have contact with any child under 16 years of age unless a responsible adult who is aware of these charges is present.
He cannot seek or obtain employment or volunteer position that involves being in a position of trust towards children under the age of 16. Misiak is not to attend any public park or swimming area.
While the accused must adhere to several other conditions while he awaits his trial, only those that relate to the public's interest were provided.
“Edmonton ICE (Internet Child Exploitation Unit) had great support from the Bonnyville RCMP throughout this investigation and as a result our team was able to effect an arrest safely and expediently,” stated a media release attributed to Sgt. Kerry Shima of the ICE Unit.
“Each time someone views or distributes child pornography, the infants, children and teens depicted in those images are victimized again. Although the sexual assaults and exploitation which is depicted in the images and videos has already happened, the people who choose to download and share these images for their own gratification are effectively re-offending against the children depicted in the images. The victims of child pornography live with this trauma for the rest of their lives.”
Anyone that has any information about this offence or those involved is urged to contact the Bonnyville RCMP Detachment at 780-343-7200, local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.
*The initial publication of this article did not include release conditions imposed on Andrew Misiak.
