Charlottetown man faces multiple sex offence charges involving children

A 23-year-old man from Charlottetown is facing 14 sex offence charges including child luring and sexual assault in connection to two girls from Summerside, say Charlottetown police.

Darrel Edison Worth is charged with two counts of each of the followings, according to a news release from Charlottetown police.

• Sexual assault.
• Sexual interference.
• Invitation to sexual touching.
• Transmitting child pornography.
• Making sexually explicit material available to a child.
• Making an agreement or an arrangement for a sexual offence against a child.
• Luring a child.

On March 2,Summerside police contacted Charlottetown police to ask for the wellness check. They were concerned that the girls might be involved with an older man in Charlottetown. The girls were located, and officers found that they had encountered a man known only as Eric. There was evidence two of them had been sexually exploited.

An investigation led them to Worth. He was arrested Thursday morning and made an appearance in provincial court Thursday afternoon. He remains in custody, said police.

A search warrant was also executed at Worth's home and electronic devices were seized.

The charges are connected to two of the three girls involved in the wellness check. Police say there were no charges connected to the third.

Charlottetown police Det.-Const.Trevor Monaghan clarified that Worth was not making explicit images or videos. Rather, police allege he was sending explicit writing to the girls, whichled to the charges of distributing child pornography.

Parents should monitor children's online activity

Police believe there may be other potential victims.Worth predominantly used TikTok to make contact online, using the display name Eddie Worth and the username @eshaw30, said Charlottetown police. In conversations with his allegedvictims, he also went by the name Eric, police added.

The TikTok account is still online, Monaghansaid.

Charlottetown police are asking that anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Worth to contact them. Call the Charlottetown police major crime unit at 902-629-4172. Information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

"Just be engaged with your children's online activity," Monaghan said. "When you offer your child access to the internet you're not only giving them access to the world, but you're giving predators access to your children."

Worth was in court Thursday and will remain in custody until his next appearance on Sept. 26.