Medicine Hat man faces child pornography charges

A man police say was the former director of a youth summer camp in southeastern Alberta has been charged with possessing and accessing child pornography.

The investigation was launched last November when the U.S. National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children relayed informationto the National Child Exploitation Co-ordination Centre in Ottawa.

The U.S. agency saida social media user in Alberta was uploading child pornography.

The case was then referred to the provincialInternet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit, which falls under the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT).

Nolan Davidson, 25, was arrested Thursday.

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ICE investigators, along with Medicine Hat police, executed a search warrant on his home in the Crestwood neighbourhood of Medicine Hat. Several electronic devices were seized.

Police said in a release that Davidson identifies himself on social media as the former camp director at Eagles Nest Ranch, a youth summer camp in Cypress Hills Provincial Park, about 70 kilometres southeast of Medicine Hat.

Police added they have no evidence to suggest offences were committed against any children who attended the camp.

Camp officials said they were saddened and surprised to hear of the charges.

"ENR continues to place the highest priority on the safety and welfare of our campers and staff," the camp said in an emailed statement.

"ENR staff and volunteers undergo police and vulnerable sector checks prior to assuming responsibilities at camp. ENR also requires its staff and volunteers to take part in a Plan to Protect seminar; training that equips staff to recognize abuse and follow procedures to close the gaps in security and eliminate any harm to the vulnerable sector."

The statement encouraged anyone with knowledge of the investigation to contact police.

Anyone with information is asked to call their local policeor visit www.cybertip.ca.

For information about how to recognize signs of child abuse, and other resources, visit the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre website.

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