Thunder Bay police charge 3 men in child porn probes

A hand is shown operating a computer mouse with a screen full of blurred images shown on the monitor in the background. (File photo/CTV News)

Three men face charges following several separate child pornography investigations by the Thunder Bay Police Service, authorities announced the details in a news release.

Three incidents, three charged

In the first incident, police began investigating last year after learning an adult male allegedly interacted with a female youth online, soliciting and sending nude images via a social media platform. A 20-year-old man was arrested May 15 and charged with luring a child, possession of child pornography, and making sexually explicit material available to a child.

The second case involved a suspect accused of sharing child sexual abuse material in 2024. After executing a search warrant Feb. 27 and seizing electronic devices, police allege the suspect solicited nude images from female youths. The 25-year-old man turned himself in on May 16 and faces charges including luring a child, possession, accessing, and distributing child pornography.

In the third incident, a 44-year-old man was charged May 16 after turning himself in following a search on April 22, where investigators seized electronic devices. The search warrant executed was tied to alleged sharing of child sexual abuse material. He is charged with possession, accessing, and distributing child pornography.

Thunder Bay police urge anyone with information that may assist in any of these investigations to contact Det. Const. Joel Manherz at [phone] ext. 4115 or submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

The police service noted that reports of any online exploitation can be made online at cybertip.ca.

All three accused appeared in court in Thunder Bay on Friday.

Resources for sexual assault survivors

If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found at ReeseCommunity.com. Resources in your community can be found by entering your postal code.

• If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911.
• Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here.
• National Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
• 24-hour crisis line: 1-416-597-8808
• Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone]
• Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
• Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: 1-844-750-1648

Read about your rights as a victim here.