NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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In September 2024, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Detectives assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit initiated an investigation into an unknown person possessing child pornography and accessing child pornography in their cloud storage.
On Oct. 16 detectives in the Niagara Regional Police Service ICE Unit and Technological Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at a private residence in Welland and seized numerous devices capable of storing electronic data. Patrick F. Paone, 49, was located at the residence and arrested for the following criminal offences:
- Possession of child pornography
- Accessing child pornography
Paone was held in custody after his arrest and is set to appear for a bail hearing on Oct. 16 at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in St. Catharines.
Paone is actively involved in coaching minor hockey within the Niagara Region, and as detectives continue to investigate, they are asking anyone with information to contact them at (905) 688-4111, dial option 3, ext. 1009172.
Online platforms that allow like-minded users to engage with minors, create, share, and store Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) are prevalent on the Internet. Offenders who upload, share, and collect digital image/video files of Child Sexual Abuse Material can be identified and will be held accountable for their actions.
For more information on how parents and guardians can keep children safe online CLICK HERE.
The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet and conducts investigations into Internet Child Exploitation Offences in partnership with Ontario Police Services and International Partners. This investigative initiative has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.
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