Hostile crowd at Trois-Rivieres courthouse greets man arrested for child porn

CTV Montreal: Child porn charges Jonathan Bettez was charged with six counts related to child pornography in Trois-Rivieres on Tuesday.

A 36-year-old man faced an angry crowd as he was charged with six counts related to child pornography in Trois-Rivieres on Tuesday.

A packed courtroom looked on as a judge read out the charges facing Jonathan Bettez. Among the audience was the family of Cedrika Provencher, the nine-year-old girl whose disappearance in 2007 shocked the province. Provencher’s remains were found in a wooded area in December.

The Surete du Quebec would not comment on any possible connections between this case and the Provencher case, but many close to Cedrika were at the courthouse to take a look at the child porn suspect.

"It been nine years since we’ve been in this cycle,” said Cedrika’s mother, Karine Provencher. “For me it’s important there’s justice for my daughter.”

“My message to Bettez is that he should cooperate with police,” said Cedrika’s father, Martin Provencher.

Bettez met with police during the initial investigation into Provencher's disappearance. He was never charged.

With emotions running high in the courtroom, the judge warned everyone to maintain decorum.

When Bettez arrived at the courthouse, he had not yet secured an attorney, though one volunteered as he was being arraigned.

Later, Bettez, who has no criminal record, was released on $5,000 bail posted by his mother. He will have to surrender his passport as part of the bail conditions and cannot use the Internet unless it's for work purposes. He will also be required to stay away from school zones, playgrounds, daycares or anywhere else where children 16 years old and younger might go.

The charges against Bettez include the following:

Bettez was arrested at his job at Emballages Bettez, an industrial packaging company, on Monday.

That business, as well as two homes, were searched as Surete du Quebec and local officers seized computer equipment. At least 60 officers were involved in the raids.

Bettez will be back in court on Sept. 28.