Two investigations have resulted in charges against two men for offences related to Child Sexual Abuse Exploitation Material (CSAEM), as reported by local police authorities. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Halifax Regional Detachment began looking into the case after receiving information on June 3 indicating that CSAEM had been discovered on an electronic device seized during a prior investigation that had been concluded.
Following this information, investigators from the Internet Child Exploitation Unit executed a search warrant at a residence in Dartmouth. During the search, multiple electronic devices were seized for forensic analysis. This led to the arrest of 31-year-old Kyle Brimicombe on July 10. Brimicombe was taken into custody without incident and subsequently appeared in Dartmouth provincial court on July 13. He faces serious charges, including two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference, three counts of possession of child sexual abuse exploitation material, two counts of making child sexual abuse exploitation material, and one count of accessing child sexual abuse exploitation material.
In another thread of the investigation, on March 23, tips were received suggesting that a Halifax resident may have been accessing CSAEM online. This led investigators to conduct another search at a residence in Halifax on July 30, during which additional electronic devices were seized for further forensic review. Subsequently, 75-year-old William Lewis was arrested at the scene without incident and appeared in Halifax provincial court on July 31. Lewis faces charges that include possession of child sexual abuse exploitation material, access to child sexual abuse exploitation material, and breach of probation.
As of now, Lewis has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance scheduled for August 24. Both investigations are ongoing, coordinated by the Internet Child Exploitation Unit with the assistance of the Digital Forensic Identification Unit within the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division.
Authorities continue to urge the community for any information related to CSAEM. Individuals who have knowledge or tips about such material are encouraged to report it by calling the police at 902-490-5020. They can also reach out via Cybertip, Canada’s national tip line dedicated to reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, at the website www.cybertip.ca.
