THUNDER BAY — City police are looking to identify more potential victims in an ongoing child pornography investigation.
In a Wednesday press conference, the Thunder Bay Police Service said additional charges were laid this month against 32-year-old Kelvin Patrick John McPherson Pelletier, who had been initially arrested and charged last October.
Investigators released two images, one of the suspect and another that is a collage of photos that the suspect allegedly used on various social media accounts. Police said the individuals pictured in the collage are not suspected of being involved in any offences, and likely had their images used without their permission.
The investigation began in July 2022 when police learned of a local individual who was suspected of contacting minors online and sending sexually explicit material.
It was through their investigation that police believed a local man was involved with multiple victims online.
The suspect was originally charged in October 2022 for possessing child porn, along with luring underage individuals and communicating with minors for the purpose of obtaining sexual services.
On Sept. 7, police added more charges to the suspect's case, including possessing, accessing, and distributing child pornography. Pelletier will also be facing charges of luring a person under 18 years old, criminal harassment and impersonating a peace officer.
Pelletier has since been released from custody with conditions and a future date with the courts.
The charges have yet to be tested in court.
Police are asking the public to review the pictures in an attempt to identify more victims.
Thunder Bay police Insp. Jeremy Pearson with the service noted that the suspect's illegal actions likely went on for quite some time.
"I can say that it is an extensive period of time that our investigators discovered as they get further into the investigation, they are discovering that these offences date back perhaps further than initially believed," Pearson said.
"I also don't want to potentially limit the perspective of anyone who may be a victim who has yet not reported because I've put on narrow a constraint on the timeline. So, at this point, I will say that it's our contention that these offences span a period of years."
Police are asking if anyone recognizes the images in the photo collage, used to lure potential victims, or recognizes the suspect; they are asked to contact Thunder Bay Police Det.-Const. Joel Manherz at (807) 684-1200 ext. 4115. Tips can also be anonymously submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or online at www.p3tips.com.
