A Calgary senior citizen has been charged with child sexual exploitation after police say he shared and traded extremely graphic and violent images of child sexual abuse online.
Arrest in Cranston Neighbourhood
Officers from the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit and the Calgary Police Service arrested the suspect on Thursday, May 28, at a home in the southeast Calgary neighbourhood of Cranston. Electronic devices were seized as evidence, according to an ALERT news release issued the following morning.
Particularly Egregious Content
ICE Staff Sgt. Gordon MacDonald described the material as especially disturbing. "Unquestionably all child sexual exploitation materials are offensive, but in this case the content is particularly egregious," MacDonald said in the statement. "This arrest is a small step towards curbing these photos and videos from being traded online."
Charges and Court Appearance
Michael Penfold, 70, of Calgary, has been charged with making available, possessing, and accessing child sexual exploitation material. He is accused of sharing and trading the images on the internet. Penfold remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on June 18.
Police Seek Public Assistance
Authorities are asking anyone with information about this case to contact local police or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, via their website, or through the P3 Tips mobile app.
The investigation highlights ongoing efforts by ALERT and Calgary police to combat online child exploitation. The ICE unit specializes in targeting individuals who produce, distribute, and possess child sexual abuse material, working to remove such content from circulation and bring offenders to justice.
