Alberta soldier faces child luring, child porn charges in cross-border investigation

An Alberta member of the Canadian Armed Forces is facing child luring and child pornography charges after a joint investigation by Alberta policeandU.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

Cpl. Steven Massey, 32, has been charged with child luring, making child pornographyand distribution of child pornography, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) said in a news release Friday.

The investigation was launchedin March 2017byHomeland Security Investigators basedin Laredo, Texas, after the accused attempted to meet up with a Texas girl for sex, ALERT said.

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Masseyis based in Wainwright, Alta.

He was arrested on June 21 in Edmonton, and computers and otherelectronics were seized from his military residence.

Investigators with U.S. immigration, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Alberta law enforcement "are committed to seeking out and bringing to justice those who prey upon children, and this successful investigation is a good example of that outstanding international collaboration and partnership," said HSI Ottawa attach Melissa Ruiz in a statement.

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Massey has been in and out of the military since 2007,base spokesperson Lt. Tony Wright told CBC Edmonton on Friday. Massey enlisted and was voluntarily released at leastthree times over the past decade.

In 2013, Masseyserved a six-month deployment in Kuwaitat the Canadian Armed Forces operational support hub in Kuwait.

He re-enlisted again in August 2016. He was thenposted to CFB Wainwright's CanadianManoeuvre Training Centre as a mobile support equipment operator.

According to Massey'sFacebook page, he grew up inMidland, Ont.

He was released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions.He is next scheduled to appear in court on June 30.

Wright said the military takes the allegations "very seriously" and militaryinvestigators are assisting ALERT with its investigation.

Massey's work restrictions will be based on the conditions imposed by the court, Wright said.