Toronto police have charged a 35-year-old man who they say used various online names similar to child social-media stars in order to lure children into sending him sexually exploitative photos and videos.
Jose Paolo Caoitan from Toronto is charged with 138 offences, including 43 counts of child luring, 25 counts of making child pornography, 18 counts of invitation to sexual touching, and 23 counts of failure to comply with section 161 of the Criminal Code, which means Caoitan had been charged previously for criminal offences related to a child or children under the age of 16, and these current alleged offences are in breach of his previous conditions.
On Oct. 27, a search warrant was carried out in the Lawrence Avenue East and Midland Avenue area, the Toronto Police Service (TPS)said in a news release Monday.
Almost a month later, on Nov. 25, Caoitan was arrested and charges were laid.
The TPS Sex Crime-Child Exploitation Section stated that the accused used multiple online profiles with user names similar to those of popular child social-media celebrities. Police allege that the profiles were used to “lure children into sending him sexually exploitative photos and videos.”
Police are concerned that there may be more victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-8500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
