ROSSLAND (NEWS1130) - A teenage boy from the Interior is charged with 47 child luring offences dating back to June 2009. An arrest back in November led police to a staggering number of potential victims.
"The investigation has identified 20 victims at this point," says RCMP Sergeant Rob Vermeulen. "Their ages are 10 to 14 years. Most of those victims are from the Greater Castlegar and Trail areas."
In November of last year, Mounties searched the teen's home and seized computers and other electronics.
"Our suspect here was allegedly communicating with potential victims through the Internet for the purpose of having them perform sexual acts through their web cameras or to arrange face-to-face meetings with them," Vermeulen says.
He can't be named because he's still under 18 but will appear in court in Rossland on Thursday. He's already banned from being around kids and teens near his own age unless an adult is there. There's a chance he could face more charges, and police want any other potential victims to come forward.
Police say it's yet another reminder to parents to always know what your kids are up to online, and to talk to them about the risks involved.