An Ayton man is among 36 men charged in a large police investigation into child sexual exploitation.
OPP say they’ve laid a combined total of 128 criminal charges against the men.
The 56 year old Ayton man, who police did not name, faces three counts of luring a person under 16, two counts of making sexually explicit material available to a child and two counts of personation to avoid arrest. Police note some cases have publication bans.
Police say officers posed as children online and waited for offenders to make contact, nine real victims were identified. OPP say they have been provided support and are safe.
They say 21 police services from the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet took part in the luring investigation from March 31 to April 11, 2025. They say investigators used undercover techniques to access online chat rooms and social media apps in order to identify, locate and arrest people looking to sexually exploit children.
OPP say all of the accused are male, with ages ranging from 18 to 73.
One of the arrested was listed on the National Sex Offender Registry.
They say 51 ongoing investigations remain.
OPP Detective Staff Sergeant Tim Brown says in a statement, “These results highlight a sobering reality: predators can easily reach children in online spaces. We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to talk to your children about staying safe online. Just as you wouldn’t leave your child alone in a city, don’t let them navigate the online world alone.”
