UPDATE: The Edmonton man released on conditions related to child luring was rearrested after more people came forward.
Background
ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit arrested and charged a 33-year-old man with several offences including the exploitation of two teenage boys.
ALERT alleges that the man, Justin Georges Stephen Coulombe, was in possession of child pornography and had attempted to lure two teenage boys to commit offences against a child.
ICE investigators say additional victims have come forward and spoken with investigators. Coloumbe has additional charges laid against him including four counts of sexual interference and one count of invitation to sexual touching.
“The ICE Unit has had numerous tips from the public forwarded to them from local police and Crime Stoppers,” states a press release. “The victims who came forward this week recounted past incidents of sexual offences. As with the previous cases, ICE has no evidence in these new cases to suggest victims were lured while Coulombe was posing as a Catholic priest.”
“We would continue to encourage anyone with any information – no matter how old it is – to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers,” says Det. Brian Cross of the ICE Unit. “Regardless of how much time has passed, that information is still very important to our investigation.” Tips can also be submitted online at www.cybertip.ca.
Investigators say Coulombe, “purports to be and identifies himself in public as a member of the Catholic clergy, but he has no affiliation with the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton or any other diocese in Canada or the United States.”
He is charged with: luring to commit the making of child pornography, two counts; luring to commit an offence against a child; sexual interference; invitation to sexual touching; sexual assault; possession of child pornography; and extortion.
“The investigation began after the mother of one of the alleged victims came forward to police with information about sexually graphic messages that had been exchanged online for several months,” states the ICE release. “ICE alleges that the relationship with this boy then became sexual, while the offences against the second teenage boy were solely committed online. A preliminary forensic analysis of the devices seized during the arrest identified child pornography images.”
Coulombe moved to Edmonton from Langley, B.C., at the beginning of 2017 and ICE investigators believe there may be more victims in this case and are looking to speak to anyone from either province who may have more information. Anyone with information is asked to call their local police department or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Coulombe was released on recognizance with a number of strict court-imposed conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 21.
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. Members of the Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.