Vermilion man charged after cross-border child pornography and luring investigation
A Vermilion man is facing several serious charges after a cross-border investigation uncovered allegations of online luring and the sharing of child sexual exploitation material.
Investigation began in the United States
The case started on Sept. 9, 2025, when Alberta’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit was alerted by the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin. U.S. investigators had identified a Canadian man who was allegedly sending sexually explicit messages to a youth under 18 and soliciting intimate images.
Vermilion RCMP and the Lloydminster RCMP General Investigation Section worked with ICE, leading to the arrest of 35-year-old Christian Villahermosa on Sept. 19. Officers also seized child pornography as part of the investigation.
Multiple charges laid
Villahermosa has been charged with:
▪️ Possession of child pornography
▪️ Making child pornography
▪️ Distributing child pornography
▪️ Accessing child pornography
▪️ Luring a child
He was released on conditions following a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Vermilion on Dec. 15, 2025.
RCMP urge parents to talk openly about online safety
Police say prevention starts at home and are urging parents to talk with their children about online luring, how it happens, and what to do if something feels unsafe.
Key guidance for parents includes:
▪️ Explain what online luring is and why it is a crime
▪️ Discuss red-flag behaviour and unsafe situations
▪️ Talk about ways to exit uncomfortable conversations
▪️ Encourage youth to come to a trusted adult for help
▪️ Review real cases together to identify warning signs
Cpl Brittany Pegg, Acting Detachment Commander for Vermilion RCMP, stresses the importance of staying engaged. “If you don’t know about your children’s online presence, start asking questions.”
Additional resources are available through the RCMP and Cybertip.ca.
Anyone who wishes to report online child sexual exploitation can do so anonymously at Cybertip.ca. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police.
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Vermilion man charged after cross-border child pornography and luring investigation
A Vermilion man is facing several serious charges after a cross-border investigation uncovered allegations of online luring and the sharing of child sexual exploitation material.
Investigation began in the United States
The case started on Sept. 9, 2025, when Alberta’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit was alerted by the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin. U.S. investigators had identified a Canadian man who was allegedly sending sexually explicit messages to a youth under 18 and soliciting intimate images.
Vermilion RCMP and the Lloydminster RCMP General Investigation Section worked with ICE, leading to the arrest of 35-year-old Christian Villahermosa on Sept. 19. Officers also seized child pornography as part of the investigation.
Multiple charges laid
Villahermosa has been charged with:
▪️ Possession of child pornography
▪️ Making child pornography
▪️ Distributing child pornography
▪️ Accessing child pornography
▪️ Luring a child
He was released on conditions following a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Vermilion on Dec. 15, 2025.
RCMP urge parents to talk openly about online safety
Police say prevention starts at home and are urging parents to talk with their children about online luring, how it happens, and what to do if something feels unsafe.
Key guidance for parents includes:
▪️ Explain what online luring is and why it is a crime
▪️ Discuss red-flag behaviour and unsafe situations
▪️ Talk about ways to exit uncomfortable conversations
▪️ Encourage youth to come to a trusted adult for help
▪️ Review real cases together to identify warning signs
Cpl Brittany Pegg, Acting Detachment Commander for Vermilion RCMP, stresses the importance of staying engaged. “If you don’t know about your children’s online presence, start asking questions.”
Additional resources are available through the RCMP and Cybertip.ca.
Anyone who wishes to report online child sexual exploitation can do so anonymously at Cybertip.ca. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police.
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you might also like
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