Okotoks child sexual exploitation suspect Corey Airhart back in custody

Police say a 35-year-old Okotoks man has been arrested for allegedly breaching his release conditions.

An Okotoks man charged after the discovery of a vast collection of child sexual abuse materials is back in police custody.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) says more than 500,000 child sexual exploitation photos and videos were found on hard drives and computers at Corey Airhart’s home in May, the largest collection the organization’s internet child exploitation unit had ever encountered.

Airhart, 35, is charged with possessing and accessing child sexual abuse materials.

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He was released from custody with a court date scheduled for Aug. 8.

Residents in Okotoks flooded social media in anger after learning of Airhart’s release, expressing shock he was allowed to return to his home.

The house where neighbours say he used to live has since been vandalized.

On Wednesday, RCMP issued an update saying Airhart had been arrested for breaching the conditions of his release.

Officials say Cochrane RCMP began investigating a complaint against Airhart on June 9, and obtained a warrant for his arrest on June 11.

On June 16, Mounties arrested Airhart in High River.

He remains in custody pending a court appearance on June 23.