N.W.T. man convicted for online child luring in remote community

A 27-year-old man from a community in the Northwest Territories has been convicted and sentenced to jail time in an internet child exploitation case.

Last Wednesday, N.W.T. territorial court Judge Robert Gorin sentenced Joshua Jeremick'ca to nine months in jail plus 15 months probation.

Jeremick'ca had pleaded guilty to one charge of luring a child by telecommunications. An additional charge of transmitting sexually explicit material for the purpose of facilitating an offence was withdrawn.

The identity of the victim, who is under the age of 18, is protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

Nude photos requested over Facebook

According to an agreed statement of facts, RCMP began an investigation after the victim's mother reportedin 2017 that Jeremick'ca had been inappropriately communicating with her child.

In Facebook messages exchanged between Jeremick'ca and the child,he had requested that they exchange nude photos. There were also references to the possibility of the two meeting up, although this never happened.

In a warned statement with police, Jaremick'ca admitted to discussing the exchange of nude photos and that he knew the victim was under 18.

A pre-sentence report states that while Jeremick'ca showedremorse for his actions, it appeared that "he may not fully understand the severity of his offence or the impact it has had on the victim and their family."

It also saysthat Jeremick'ca's adoptive mother strongly suspects he may have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, although he has never been assessed

This is not Jeremick'ca's first sex-related offence. In 2011 he was sentenced to eight months in jail plus two years probation for a sexual assault conviction.

During his time at the FortSmith Correctional Centre in late2011 and early 2012, Jeremick'ca completed sex offender programming. Correctional records indicate he was an active participant and completed the program successfully.

RCMP issue public message

A Tuesday morning news release by the N.W.T. RCMP which did not name the accused or the jurisdiction where the crimes were committedsaid the case demonstrates the police force's ability to investigate this type of crime and gain a conviction.

It alsoremindedcaregivers about the importance of teaching children and youthinternetsafety.

RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Cordonsaid police issued the news release to let people know this type of crime can be committed anywhere, including in the Northwest Territories, and that these crimes should be reported.

"We really want to send a message to people that might feel that they've been exploited that they're not alone, they can come forward and the RCMP here in the Northwest Territories has the ability to investigate those files thoroughly," she said.

"The RCMP are listening and we're able to take that information and turn it into charges."

York-Condon also noted there are support services in the territory for victims, including Victim's Services through the Justice Department.