Bonnyville man charged with possession of child pornography

Police have arrested and charged a Bonnyville man with possession and transmitting child pornography stemming from a lengthy investigation.

On July 18, RCMP arrested 56-year-old Andrew Misiak of Bonnyville. 

With information released on Thursday morning, authorities said the investigation began in February of 2022 as ALERT’s Northern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit (NAICE) began looking into a Bonnyville resident who was believed to be in possession of child pornography.

Misiak has been taken before a justice of the peace and released on several conditions with his next court appearance date set for August 16, 2022 at Bonnyville Provincial Court. 

“Edmonton ICE had great support from the Bonnyville RCMP throughout this investigation and as a result our team was able to effect an arrest safely and expediently,” said Sergeant Kerry Shima of the Internet Child Exploitation Unit. 

“Each time someone views or distributes child pornography, the infants, children and teens depicted in those images are victimized again. Although the sexual assaults and exploitation which is depicted in the images and videos has already happened, the people who choose to download and share these images for their own gratification are effectively re-offending against the children depicted in the images. The victims of child pornography live with this trauma for the rest of their lives.” 

If you have any information about this offence or those involved please contact the Bonnyville RCMP Detachment at 780-343-7200, your local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. 

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.