Okotoks man rearrested after breaching release conditions
The 35-year-old was arrested in High River after allegedly violating multiple court-ordered restrictions just days after initial release.
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An Okotoks man at the centre of one of Alberta's largest child exploitation investigations has been rearrested for breaching his release conditions.
On June 3, the 35-year-old was arrested by Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams' Internet Child Exploitation unit after authorities seized more than 500,000 child sexual abuse materials from his home—one of the largest collections the unit has ever encountered.
Following a bail hearing, the man was released on June 3 with strict conditions: he must stay at least 50 metres from public swimming areas, schools, daycares, playgrounds, youth shelters, and public libraries, or any place where children under 16 gather. He was also prohibited from contacting anyone under 16 and forbidden from possessing devices with internet access or cameras.
On June 9, Cochrane RCMP received a complaint that the accused had breached those conditions. After investigating, officers obtained an arrest warrant on June 11. The man was arrested in High River on June 16.
Following another bail hearing, he was remanded into custody to appear in court in Cochrane on June 23. The accused faces charges of possessing and accessing child sexual abuse materials.
RCMP cautioned residents against vigilante action after the initial arrest. The home linked to the accused has been repeatedly vandalized, with police investigating multiple reports of mischief at the residence.