Bowmanville man, Smith Falls woman charged in sexual exploitation of a child

A Smith Falls, Ont. woman has been arrested following an international investigation into the sexual exploitation of a child – the daughter of an American woman also linked – but not named in the sordid tale – by two adults, including a Bowmanville man.

The Bowmanville man was arrested December 28 by Durham Police’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) after he arranged to meet with an American woman for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts against the woman’s daughter.

An investigation into the man’s phone records revealed a conversation from the app ‘KIK’ with a Canadian woman with the username ‘harleyquinn_613’.  The conversation, police say, detailed arrangements to engage in sexual offences against a child.

The ICE Unit, in collaboration with members of Homeland Security Investigations, the OPP, Durham Police’s Cyber Crime Unit and the Canadian Borders Services Agency worked to gather evidence and to identify the woman.

On Sunday morning ICE Unit and Electronic Crimes Unit officers executed a search warrant at an address in Smiths Falls, south of Ottawa. The woman was located inside and taken into custody without incident.

Sheena Smith, 37, is charged with agree/arrange to commit sexual offence against a child under 16 and four child pornography offences, including make child pornography, possess child pornography, access child pornography and make child pornography available.

She was held for a bail hearing.

Police are concerned there may be other victims and are requesting anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact D/Cst. Mayhew of the Major Crime Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5502.

Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca.

Durham Police acknowledged the assistance of the Canadian National and Ontario Provincial Strategies to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. For more information on the ICE unit and resources that are available, visit https://www.drps.ca/community-safety-and-support/crime-prevention/internet-safety-and-child-exploitation/