Former Surrey real estate agent facing 14 charges related to sexual assault, child porn

More than a dozen charges related to sexual assaultand child pornography have been laidagainst a former real estate agent from Surrey, B.C., police say.

Paul Atanassov, 25, was arrested on Nov. 18following a lengthy criminal investigation which began this summer, RCMP said in a statement Wednesday.

He was held in custodyuntil Dec. 17, when the B.C. Prosecution Serviceapproved 14 charges against him.

They include sexual assault, sexual interference of a person under 16, making or publishing child pornography andtelecommunication to lure a child under 16, according to the statement.

In a phone call Wednesday, Sutton Premier Realty managing broker Kelvin Neufeldconfirmed to CBC News thatAtanassov worked for the Surrey-based agencyfor a couple of years until July this year whenRCMPinformed themabout the allegations.

A search on the website of the B.C. Financial Services Authority,the independent body that regulates the industry, did not reveal any licensed real estate agents with Atanassov's name, and it is not clear for how long he was still acting as one.

Atanassov has been releasedby the courtson strict conditions, which include:

• a curfew of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., under which hecan only leave his residence with permission;
• not attending any public park, public swimming area, community centre,or theatre where persons under the age of 16are present;
• not havingcontact, or being in the presence of any person under the age of 16;
• not datingor getting married to anyone who haschildren under the age of 16 without their prior knowledge of his charges;
• not possessing any digital devices capable of accessing the internet;
• not distributing, publishing, posting or makingpublicly availableinformation including comments and images with respect to any person.
• not accessing any social media sites, social networks, internet discussions, forums or chat rooms.

Atanassov'snext appearance in court is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2022.

Anyone with information or who might witness Atanassov breaching any of hisconditions is askedto contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.