Thunder Bay child porn suspect works as child educator
Thunder Bay police find large amount of women's lingerie in Shuniah Township home
CBC News
Posted: Jan 14, 2013 3:50 PM ET
Last Updated: Jan 14, 2013 3:47 PM ET
An early childcare educator in Thunder Bay has been arrested on child pornography charges.
Mark Lehtonen of Shuniah Township has been charged with possession and distribution of child porn and with extortion.
Thunder Bay Police said their investigation stemmed from a complaint from a female related to nude photos of her being in someone else's possession. While the complainant is an adult now, the case relates to something that happened when she was underage.
Police spokesperson Julie Tilbury said the 29-year-old Lehtonen currently works at more than one agency as an early childhood educator.
"At this point we just want to make sure that the public is aware of the fact that this individual did work out in the community with children,” she said.
“We are working closely with those agencies to make sure they know everything and they are taking the appropriate steps to notify those parents who have utilized their services.”
Tilbury said police are not alleging that any of the activities the man is charged with took place at any of his current workplaces.
She said police seized a computer and other electronic devices at a residence in Shuniah, and that a search of those items resulted in child pornography images being located.
Tilbury said police also found a large number of adult female undergarments in the residence. Police have asked anyone whose underwear may have gone missing over the past year to contact them.
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