Two Kingston residents charged in massive OPP child exploitation project
Two Kingston men are among 64 offenders charged as the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced staggering numbers of online child exploitation arrests as part of province-wide "Project Aquatic."
Anthony Cochrane, age 44, of Kingston, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography, two counts of voyeurism under 16, two counts of making child pornography, and two counts of voyeurism over 16. Cochrane was released from custody, and his next court date is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Kingston.
Eric Foell, age 37, also of Kingston, was arrested and charged with making child pornography and bestiality. Foell is currently in custody and scheduled to appear in Kingston court on Friday, May 10, 2024.
In response to Kingstonist inquiries, Kingston Police shared that Foell was arrested on March 6, 2024, and Cochrane was first arrested in November 2023. However, the ensuing investigation uncovered evidence leading to additional charges, and he was rearrested in March 2024.
"These arrest stats are being contributed to Project Aquatic," stated Const Anthony Colangeli, Media Relations Officer for Kingston Police.
The provincial law enforcement authority detailed Project Aquatic at the media event, noting that members of the OPP-led Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial ICE [Internet Child Exploitation] Strategy) took part in child sexual abuse investigations that were both reactive and proactive.
OPP Detective Staff Sergeant Tim Brown, Provincial ICE Strategy Lead, described the operation. Beginning on February 19, 2024, and ending on February 29, 2024, investigations identified and arrested those making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. The identified victims were provided victim support, and impacted children were "safeguarded," which, Brown explained, meant they were taken out of harmful situations.
As a result of Project Aquatic:
Notably, during the investigation, one individual set up a meeting with undercover investigators intending to meet with a child in real life for a sexual purpose. Another individual had approximately 21 terabytes of data containing child sexual abuse material.
Michelle Dorey Forestell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kingstonist.com
