Calgary's Laurence Bouwmeester accused of sexual assault of Lethbridge boy
A 61-year-old Calgary man faces numerous charges for an alleged sexual relationship with a teenage boy who lives in Lethbridge.
Laurence Bouwmeester was arrested at his Calgary home on Tuesday by the child exploitation unit of the Alberta Law Enforcement Teams (ALERT).
Investigators allege he engaged in a sexual relationship with the boy, who was 14 when they met online.
"The relationship progressed to physical sexual offences being committed and took place over a period of two years," ALERT said in a release.
Police got involved in March after the victim's parents discovered sexually explicit messages, photos and videos on the victim's computer.
ALERT's internet child exploitation (ICE) unit identified Bouwmeester, who made no attempt to conceal his identity online, said Cst. Jason Richmond on Thursday.
They seized more than 68 electronic devices when they searched his home and investigators are now examining the data.
An initial scan, though, found a number of child sexual exploitation photos.
"It wouldn't surprise us to find out that there are more victims," Richmond said, but noted that it was too early to tell if other victims were from Lethbridge or other areas.
Bouwmeester is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 2.
He faces numerous charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference, luring to make child pornography, as well as making, possessing and accessing child pornography.
'It's rife,' say police
Southern Alberta sees roughly 400 cases of child exploitation each year, said Staff Sgt. John Guigon with the Calgary-based ICE unit.
"I wish we could say there weren't that many offenders out there ... but it's rife," Guigon said.
"Every social media application that becomes interesting to kids shortly thereafter becomes interesting to predators. It will be used by predators to target children."
Guigon said many of these types of offences, which occur primarily over the internet, are extremely difficult to prove.
"When everything can come together and we can say this person is the offender without a doubt in our minds, it's a good day for us," he said.
"It's an incredible relief, especially for the family of the boy involved."
Guigon said in a "good year," police will make arrests on just one quarter of the 400 cases they see.
"It's good for us when we get a win."
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