Thunder Bay Police Service officers with the Cyber Crime Unit became aware in February of 2023 that digital files containing child sexual abuse had possibly been accessed by a local Internet user.
Through the course of their investigation, police learned the identity of a local suspect.
Police seized an electronic device belonging to the suspect. Investigators located files on the device they believed were consistent with child pornography.
The accused was taken into custody in the morning hours of Friday, Sept. 22.
Richard FORTIER, 35, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Accessing Child Pornography
He appeared in bail court in Thunder Bay on Friday, Sept. 22 and was released with conditions and a future appearance date.
FORTIER was also charged by the Thunder Bay Police Service in February of 2023 with Fail to Comply with Probation Order, and Faily to Comply with Prohibition Regarding Children.
The probation order was connected to a February 2021 sentencing for the offence of Possession of Child Pornography.