NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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In January 2024, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Detectives assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit began an investigation into child pornography offences committed using the Internet.
On Feb. 28, 2024, Detectives from Niagara Regional Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit and Technological Crime unit executed a search warrant at a private residence in St. Catharines and seized digital devices capable of storing electronic data. On March 4, 2024, David Alexander Gomes (28 years of age) was arrested and is now facing the following charges:
• two counts of possession of child pornography
• one count of accessing child pornography
David Alexander Gomes was held in custody after his arrest and is set to appear for a bail hearing on March 5, 2024 at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church St. in the City of St. Catharines.
Online platforms that allow like-minded users to engage with minors, create, share and store child sexual abuse material (CSAM) are prevalent on the Internet. Offenders who attempt to lure children behind an anonymous accounts on different platforms can be identified and will be held accountable for their actions.
For more information on how parents and guardians can keep children safe online, click here.
The Niagara Regional 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 Ontario Police Services and International Partners. This investigative initiative has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.
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