BONNYVILLE – On Jan. 13, Bonnyville RCMP executed a search warrant at a Bonnyville residence of a 44-year-old man in relation to a sexual assault investigation.
For the past 10 months, Bonnyville RCMP have been investigating allegations that a man used various aliases online to gain access to multiple victims and has allegedly committed sexual offences, according to RCMP.
As a result of this investigation, Christopher Brian Godfrey of Bonnyville was arrested on Jan. 13 and faces charges of sexual assault, fraud over $5,000 and extortion.
RCMP Cpl. Shawn Morgan told Lakeland This Week, that Godfrey’s image had been released to the public because in this case public interest outweighs the privacy of the accused.
“In the Privacy Act we have the authority to release that (information) when the public interest outweighs any concerns regarding invasion of privacy. So, in this instance, we are looking for other potential victims,” explained Morgan.
Morgan points out that it is easy for someone to go by different names, it is far more difficult for someone to change their appearance.
“That's why we felt it was necessary and in the public interest to release that image for any potential additional victims or witnesses,” he said.
Following a judicial hearing, Godfrey was released on cash bail with several conditions.
As a condition of his release, Godfrey is not to possess any weapons, he is not to have a computer in his home, and he is to only use the telephone function on his mobile phone with an exception for work purposes.
Godfrey is scheduled to appear in Bonnyville Provincial Court on Feb. 22.
In addition, Bonnyville RCMP are asking anyone who has given money to Godfrey or feels they may have been victimized by him or under his known aliases of “Lucas Kennedy” or “Lucas Jacknife,” in any way, to contact Bonnyville RCMP.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the "P3 Tips" app.
