A child sexual assault investigation that began in Dawson Creek now has links to the United States.
In a report to city council Monday, Staff Sgt. Marcel Guilbault gave an update on the investigation into a resident of northern B.C., saying the file has grown "by leaps and bounds."
"There have been a number of additional charges on this one, and now we have to expand the investigation across Canada and the U.S.," he said. "That's how big this is getting.
At the time of his arrest last June, the man was charged with one count of sexual assault, one count of sexual interference, a count of luring via telecommunications and two counts of administering a noxious substance, though court records show only a single charge of sexual interference with a person under 16, which allegedly happened in 2010.
According to Guilbault's report, the investigation is "growing and becoming a multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency file with links to the U.S. and other Canadian jurisdictions."
"We can't sustain this locally here," he added, saying the RCMP's Integrated Child Exploitation Team has taken on parts of the investigation.
Guilbault did not elaborate on the U.S. connection, beyond saying it was a "huge file."
The man, 32, lived in both Dawson Creek and Prince George, police say, and is currently in custody, according to court records.
He was arrested June 12 after police searched a residence and several devices belonging to the accused "capable of holding digital images." The officers were following up on a tip from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Those images led investigators to believe there were additional victims who had not been in contact with police. The known victim is believed to be under the age of 16.
The man has court dates scheduled for Jan. 19 and April 4. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dawson Creek RCMP.
reporter@dcdn.ca
UPDATE: The name of the accused has been removed due to a publication ban.
