Zain Alnoor Merchant, the 38-year-old target of an Airdrie youth's scheme inspired by the television program To Catch a Predator, pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts of violating court orders that barred him from having contact with children.
Background of the Case
Merchant admitted to breaching Criminal Code orders issued in 2022 and 2023, which stemmed from prior convictions related to child pornography. The guilty plea was entered before Justice Kristin Fahlman in a Calgary courtroom.
The Incident
According to an agreed statement of facts, presented by Crown prosecutor Jenny Rees, Merchant agreed to meet a 12-year-old boy near an Airdrie park. He then drove the child to a 7-Eleven store, where he purchased a Gatorade, and later to a McDonald's, where he bought a Happy Meal. The two also drove around and engaged in conversation.
During their interaction, Merchant told the boy that his primary rule was to “respect people’s boundaries.” When the boy declined an unspecified request, Merchant reportedly replied, “Yep, that's okay.” Merchant mentioned that he owned a delivery company and discussed how they had connected on Snapchat.
The prosecutor stated that Merchant showed the child photographs and videos of a naked woman in a shower and two males engaged in sexual intercourse. The boy noted that Merchant had two cellphones: a grey Samsung containing the explicit images and an iPhone in a red case used for purchases.
The Aftermath
After being dropped off, the boy told friends he had been communicating with a “pedo,” and they decided to “catch him.” The friends went to the 7-Eleven, where the boy contacted Merchant to return. When Merchant arrived, the boy got into his vehicle and informed him that his friends had seen them. Merchant stopped at a red light, and the boy exited the vehicle, which then sped away.
Police traced Merchant using his license plate and arrested him at his Calgary residence. Investigators recovered the iPhone but not the Samsung phone containing the pornographic material.
Legal Proceedings
At the request of Merchant's lawyer, Rebecca Snukal, Justice Fahlman ordered a forensic assessment by the Forensic Assessment Outpatient Service. A sentencing date is expected to be set next week.
Merchant faced additional charges, including kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor, but these were not pursued due to insufficient forensic evidence. He remains free pending sentencing.
