An Edmonton man was arrested by Alberta police after police said he was trying to meet his children for sex.
Police said investigators believe the 9-year-old may have been sexually assaulted based on digital evidence obtained from the man’s cell phone.
Aaron Kowalchuk, 34, was arrested during a speech in Edmonton on June 20 with the assistance of Edmonton police.
The man was found carrying a backpack containing a conducted energy weapon, according to the Alberta Law Enforcement Task Force Internet Children’s Search Unit.
Kovalchuk has been charged with soliciting children, procuring sex offenses against children, providing sexually explicit materials to children, producing child pornography, possessing child pornography, distributing child pornography, and possessing prohibited devices. .
Kovalchuk remains in police custody.
Handout / Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team
Police said in a statement Thursday that forensic analysis of the seized cell phone and other computer equipment of the man had uncovered child sexual exploitation material and incriminating online chat logs.
Investigators said they believed Kovalchuk sent sexually explicit materials to the children and attempted to meet them for sexual purposes. They allege Kovalchuk met and sexually assaulted at least two children, but police have not been able to identify the children. They say these cases may have happened in the Edmonton area.
Kovalchuk remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on July 14.
Police said anyone with information can contact local police. Report concerns anonymously at cybertip.ca.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
