Former Calgary martial arts instructor pleads guilty to luring underage girls online
Bradley Hutchison, 41, sentenced to two years in prison and three years probation for child pornography and luring offences spanning 2016 to 2018.
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Bradley Hutchison, a 41-year-old former Calgary gym owner and taekwondo instructor, pleaded guilty Tuesday to child pornography and child luring offences. Justice Sheri Epp accepted a joint proposal from the Crown and defence, sentencing Hutchison to two years in prison followed by three years probation.
The crimes occurred between 2016 and 2018, when Hutchison was between 31 and 33 years old. Court documents show Hutchison engaged in highly sexualized conversations and photo-sharing with underage girls over a nearly two-year period. Messages between Hutchison and 17 girls were detailed in the agreed statement of facts. The girls ranged in age from 10 to 17, with many based in the Philippines and India. None of the girls belonged to his martial arts studio.
Justice Epp called Hutchison's behaviour "egregious." Hutchison encouraged and received photos from some of the teens. According to court records, a 15-year-old girl from India told Hutchison she loved him and asked if he would marry her. Another young teen engaged in five months of online messaging with Hutchison; when an in-person meetup was proposed, Hutchison said he was afraid to proceed.
One complainant filed a victim impact statement describing "trauma, shame, anxiety and depression that has lasted years." The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams' Internet Child Exploitation unit conducted the investigation. Staff Sergeant Mark Auger of ALERT's ICE unit noted that "This individual was heavily involved in the martial arts community and responsible for teaching children and teens, including those with special needs."
What safeguards exist to prevent individuals with histories of child exploitation from working with minors in community settings?
How many other unreported victims may exist from Hutchison's nearly two-decade involvement in the martial arts community?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
Who is Bradley Hutchison and what were his crimes?
Bradley Hutchison is a 41-year-old former Calgary gym owner and taekwondo instructor who pleaded guilty to child pornography and child luring offences. He engaged in sexualized conversations and photo-sharing with underage girls over a nearly two-year period between 2016 and 2018.
How many girls was Hutchison in contact with and where were they from?
Hutchison engaged in online contact with 17 girls ranging in age from 10 to 17 years old. Many of the girls were based in the Philippines and India, and none belonged to his martial arts studio.
What sentence did Hutchison receive?
Justice Sheri Epp sentenced Hutchison to two years in prison followed by three years probation.
What did one victim say about the impact on her?
One complainant filed a victim impact statement describing 'trauma, shame, anxiety and depression that has lasted years.'
