Waterloo Region, ON– The Waterloo Regional Police Service Major Case Branch – Internet Child Exploitation Unit has conducted a lengthy investigation resulting in the arrest of Stanley Saunders, 54, from Cambridge.
Saunders was arrested in Jamaica on March 2, 2016, returned to Waterloo Region, and will be attending a bail hearing today on charges of:
· Sexual Interference
· Invitation to Sexual Touching
· Make Child Pornography
· Import Child Pornography
It is alleged that the offences occurred between 2004 and 2009, while Saunders travelled in Jamaica.
The investigation involved explicit collaboration and partnership with the Ministry of the Attorney General, and the RCMP. With the support of the Jamaican Constabulary, Saunders was arrested on February 15, 2016 and remained in custody awaiting extradition.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service is part of the Ontario Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. This partnership was made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General.
In 1997, Bill C-27 amended the Criminal Code to prohibit child sex tourism, which applies to all forms of sexual exploitation whether or not they are commercial in nature. Under this Bill, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can be prosecuted in Canada for certain sexual offences committed against children in other countries. Bill C-27 transformed parts of the Criminal Code into extraterritorial law, meaning that Canada assumed jurisdiction to prosecute these offences.
This is the first child sex tourism charged initiated by Waterloo Regional Police Service.