Lethbridge mother charged with sexually assaulting her child

WARNING: This story contains disturbing details.

Police have charged a southern Alberta woman with sexually assaulting her own child, officials said Thursday.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams' Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit took the child and charged the Lethbridge woman, along with a male acquaintance, with numerous offences following a lengthy investigation, ALERT said in a release.

The investigation was triggered by a tip earlier in the year from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which shared information about an Alberta suspect allegedly uploading child pornography via Facebook.

Investigators searched a home in Barnwell, Alta., a village about 40 km east of Lethbridge, on Sept. 19 and arrested the 41-year-old man. Police allege that a forensic analysis of computers found inside the home uncovered nearly half a million photos and videos of child sexual abuse materials.

"Amongst this vast collection, ICE identified a series of materials that they believed were unique and possibly created by the accused," the release said.

Further investigation led police to believe the Barnwell man was in a previous relationship with the Lethbridge mother and that they both sexually assaulted her child, in addition to sharing child sexual abuse materials.

ICE arrested the child's mother on Nov. 2 after conducting a search warrant at a Lethbridge home.

Her name is not being released in order to protect the identity of the child.

The child is getting help from a variety of specialized support services, police said. Alberta Children's Services is also involved.

The 34-year-old Lethbridge woman has been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, making child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

She was released from custody and is set to appear in court on Dec. 19 in Lethbridge.

TheBarnwell man has been charged with sexual assault, making child pornography, accessing child pornography and possessing child pornography.

He was released from custody and is due to appear in court on Jan. 16, 2024, in Taber.

Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through thisGovernment of Canada websiteor theEnding Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.