Michael Belanger, 71, was arrested after child pornography was found on several electronic devices in his possession. A search warrant was executed on May 27 by OPP officers, the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit (CSEU), and the Digital Forensics Unit, leading to the seizure of the devices and Belanger’s arrest. 

The man is charged with two counts of possessing child pornography and is being held for a bail hearing pending results of an ongoing investigation. 

The OPP note that many victims of child sexual abuse are so young that they cannot speak up when they are subjected to abuse or exploitation. Anyone who wants to help police and other agencies with prevention of such incidents can visit protectchildren.ca and download the « Child Sexual Abuse – It Is Your Business » brochure from the Canadian Center for Child Protection. 

The OPP remind parents to take a proactive approach to help protect their children from online sexual exploitation by speaking with their children regarding internet safety. Parents and anyone interested in protecting children can find resources to assist them at cybertip.ca.