Today, the Hamilton Police Service announced the arrest of a male for the sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl. This investigation led to a six-month multi-jurisdictional investigation that led to the arrest of several additional people involved in Child Sexual Abuse/Internet Child Exploitation.
On May 3, 2016 Hamilton Police received information from the Hamilton Catholic Children’s Aid Society regarding a possible child abuse case. The information received prompted an investigation that is being led by the Hamilton Police Child Abuse Unit.
Detectives interviewed a seven year old victim who disclosed that she was being sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend. On the evening of May 3rd, 2016 the man was arrested.
CHARGED*: A 34 year old man from Hamilton is facing 40 charges.
CHARGES: Sexual Assault x9, Sexual Interference x9, Make Child Pornography x10, Possess Child Pornography x10, Assault and Voyeurism
On May 4th, 2016, the investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at a Hamilton residence and police seized items of property. On May 11th, 2016, a subsequent search warrant was executed at the same residence where multiple electronic devices and additional property was seized.
As Detectives continued their investigation, they discovered the young female victim had been sexually assaulted by more than one person and she was also made available to be sexually assaulted by others through Craigslist.
As a result of the information received during the investigation, Project Links was created and initiated by Hamilton Police.
Due to the seizure and examination of the electronic devices more information became available confirming that other persons were involved in sexually assaulting this young child and exchanging child pornography among each other.
To this date Project Links has executed 14 search warrants, 15 production orders and seized over 100 electronic devices and computers. Five additional people have been arrested. We believe that these arrests have prevented other children from being sexually assaulted and or being exposed to imminent dangers.
CHARGED*: A 36 year old man from Hamilton was arrested and charged on May 20th, 2016. He remains in custody.
CHARGES: Sexual Assault, Sexual Interference, Make Child Pornography
CHARGED*: A 50 year old man from Hamilton was arrested and charged on July 13th, 2016. He remains in custody.
CHARGES: Make Child Pornography, Possess Child Pornography, Distribute Child Pornography, Communicate for the Purpose of Sexual Services Under 18 Years Old
CHARGED*: A 38 year old man from Waterloo was arrested and charged on July 14, 2016. He remains in custody and is facing eight charges.
CHARGES: Sexual Assault x2, Sexual Interference x2, Make Child Pornography x2, Distribute Child Pornography x2
CHARGED*: A 48 year old female from Waterloo was arrested and charged on August 9th, 2016. She remains in custody.
CHARGES: Sexual Assault, Sexual Interference, Make Child Pornography, Possess Child Pornography
CHARGED*: A 39 year old female from Hamilton was arrested on September 21, 2016. She has been released on a Promise to Appear
CHARGES: Failure to Provide Necessaries of Life to a Child Under 16 Years Old
Additionally Project Links investigation has revealed information that led to the concern for the safety of other children in other jurisdictions. As a result this information was then shared with other police agencies which include; U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Ontario Provincial Police, Niagara Regional Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police Service and Chatham-Kent Police Service.
The sharing of information led to investigators from the Niagara Regional Police to arrest two other men;
CHARGED*: A 52 year old man from St. Catharines was arrested and charged on September 7, 2016.
CHARGES: Making Agreement or Arrangement to Commit Sexual Interference, Possession of Child Pornography
CHARGED*: Geoffrey Burnet, a 48 year old man from Kitchener was arrested and charged on September 16, 2016
CHARGES: Make Child Pornography and Distribute Child Pornography
Investigators from the Niagara Regional Police Service shared information with Hamilton Police on their arrest of Geoffrey Burnet. Detectives from Project Links then reviewed a historical sexual assault involving another female victim unrelated to Project Links. Consequently upon his release from the Niagara Region, on September 20th, 2016 Geoffrey Burnet was then arrested and charged by the Hamilton Police with Sexual Assault, Sexual Interference and Invitation to Sexual Touching. He was later released on a recognizance of bail by the courts. A media release was sent out as Detectives believed there may have been other victims. A second adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse notified Detectives and Geoffrey Burnet was charged with additional charges of Indecent Act x2 on October 13th, 2016.
It has been confirmed that Geoffrey Burnet has been previously employed by the Columbia International College, Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board, Upper Grand District School Board as well as the Toronto District School Board. The Hamilton Police Service Victims of Crime Unit continues to investigate and believes that there may be more victims.
As Project Links investigation continued, investigators shared information with Chatham-Kent Police Service and Waterloo Regional Police Service. The results of this sharing of information led to a man being arrested by the Waterloo Regional Police on November 7th, 2016.
CHARGED*: A 35 year old man from Waterloo.
CHARGES: Making and Possessing Child Pornography
The Hamilton Police Service Victims of Crime Unit continues to investigate and believes that there may be more victims. Anyone with further information is encouraged to call Detective Michelle Wiley of the Hamilton Police Service Child Abuse Unit at 905-546-3856.
Investigators ask anyone with information who wish to remain anonymous, to call
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit your tips online at http://crimestoppershamilton.com
“We are encouraging the community to speak up for children. Let’s work together and break the silence against child sexual abuse and child exploitation said Detective Sergeant David Dunbar.” If you know of or suspect child abuse occurring, please call 9-1-1. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers.”
There is no guaranteed way to prevent a sexual assault. Sharing the details of these assaults is intended to provide the community information, and people are encouraged to trust their instincts. For confidential support, please call the Sexual Assault Centre’s 24-hour support line at 905-525-4162 or connect at www.sacha.ca, or the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at www.hhsc.ca/sadv.
Further support, assistance and counselling for child sexual assault victims and their families can be obtained throughout the community through
The Children’s Aid Society 905-522-1121 or www.hamiltoncas.com
The Catholic Children’s Aid Society 905-525-2012 or www.hamiltonccas.on.ca
Contact Hamilton at 905-522-3304 or [email protected]
THRIVE Child and Youth Trauma Services 905-523-1020 or www.thrivechildandyouth.ca.
*Please be aware that a court ordered publication ban has been issued. We are unable to provide the names of most of the accused persons. This is to ensure that the victims are not identified and to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Over 150,000 Monthly Readers! 1 Million+ Across the entire FreePress Network.
Daily Docket for all Ontario Courts
Goderich Court Zoom Link OR https://zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 640 7440 6397 Passcode: 881382
Zoom links to all Ontario courts