Ottawa man charged with online extortion, harassment

A 21-year-oldOttawa man faces 10 charges after he allegedly harassed and extorted three women online.

The investigation began after one woman came forward in January 2012, and Ottawa police subsequently discoveredtwo more victims.

All three of the women knew the accused, according to police.

The man was charged afterpolice executed a search warrant at a home in the city's east end on Nov. 14.

The charges include:

• Three counts of online extortion.
• Four counts of criminal harassment.
• One count of mischief.
• One count of intercepting private information.
• One count of attempting to commit a summary offence.

According to court documents, the manallegedly threatened the three womenwith the goal of obtaining sexual acts and getting explicit sexual photos of them. The incidents are alleged to haveoccurred between the summer of 2011 and the fall of 2013.

A fourth woman is named in court documents, but only in the context of harassment nothing of a sexual nature is mentioned.

Ottawa police said there could be other victims and if so, they'd like to hear from them.

The accused will be back in court on Dec. 10.