St. Paul – A former St. Paul RCMP officer has been sentenced to 41 months in custody after pleading guilty to offences involving the possession and transmission of child sexual abuse material.

Evan Peacock, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday in Edmonton Court of King’s Bench to two charges relating to transmitting and possessing child sexual abuse material.

With enhanced credit for the time Peacock has already spent in custody, he has approximately two weeks remaining on his sentence.

Peacock joined the St. Paul RCMP detachment in 2020 and remained a member of the force until his arrest in April 2024.

The investigation began after reports were made to the U.S.-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children regarding child sexual abuse material uploaded from an IP address in St. Paul.

Those reports were forwarded to the Northern Alberta Integrated Child Exploitation Unit.

According to an agreed statement of facts presented in court, information associated with the reports was connected to Peacock, including an email address and usernames that incorporated his RCMP regimental number.

401 files found on phone

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Peacock’s home and seized electronic devices.

A forensic examination of his cellphone uncovered 401 files of child sexual abuse material, primarily stored inside a hidden, password-protected folder.

Court heard some of the material depicted very young children and serious sexual abuse.

Peacock admitted possessing the material and using encrypted messaging applications. Court also heard that he distributed some of the material to other users, including in exchange for additional material.

Following his arrest, Peacock provided investigators with passwords to his devices and directed them to where material could be found.

The Crown and defence jointly proposed the 41-month sentence, consisting of 18 months for the distribution offence and 23 months for possession, served consecutively. Justice Kelsey Becker Brookes accepted the joint submission.

Peacock apologized in court to the victims, his family and friends and the RCMP.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Peacock received a lifetime sex offender registration order, a DNA order and a 10-year prohibition restricting his access to certain places where children may be present, with exceptions involving his biological children. Restrictions were also imposed on his use of social media and communication platforms.

Under Canada’s Criminal Code, possession, accessing and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material are separate criminal offences.