Woodstock man charged following child porn investigation

Lee Griffi, Editor

A Friendly City man is facing nine charges after following an Internet child exploitation investigation conducted by the Woodstock Police Service.

As a result of a preliminary investigation, the force’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit and Criminal Investigations Branch, with assistance from the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, arrested 31-year-old Clay Thibodeau on March 10.

Thibodeau has been charged with the following offences:

• Accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material

• Makes, publishes for the purpose of publication, child sexual abuse and exploitation material

• Possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material

• Make available child sexual abuse and exploitation material

• Three counts of failing to comply with a prohibition order for previous child sexual abuse and exploitation material-related charges

• Failing to comply with a probation order for previous child sexual abuse and exploitation material-related charges

Police say he has previous convictions for accessing and distributing child pornography, and the investigation remains ongoing.

“The Woodstock Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet and conducts investigations into Internet child exploitation offences in partnership with numerous police services across Ontario,” explained a police press release.

“This investigation was made possible through funding provided by the Ministry of the Solicitor General,” it added.

The case is under a publication ban, a legal order that prohibits the public release of certain information from a court case. A publication ban restricts what can be published in newspapers or online, broadcast on TV or radio, and shared on social media

Importantly, the information can still be discussed inside the courtroom—it just can’t be made public. Judges impose publication bans to protect victims or witnesses (especially in sensitive cases), fair trial rights, minors involved in cases or confidential evidence.

Violating a publication ban is a criminal offence and can lead to fines, charges and even jail time in serious cases.

Members of the public can report suspicious Internet activity related to child exploitation to the Woodstock Police Service or online at www.cybertip.ca, where Internet safety tips for parents, children, and Internet users are also available.

The Woodstock Police Service would like to encourage anyone with information about this investigation to contact the Woodstock Police Service at 519-537-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).