Senior charged with sharing ‘particularly egregious’ child exploitation content

(CTV News file image)

A recent raid and arrest were small steps toward removing some ‘particularly egregious’ child exploitation content from the internet, authorities said Friday.

According to Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), a Calgary senior was swept up in an initiative aimed at “online offenders trading the most extreme, graphic and violent sexual materials involving children.”

ALERT, along with the local police force, raided a home in the southeast Calgary community of Cranston on Thursday.

Michael Penfold, 70, was arrested at that time.

He’s charged with making available, possessing and accessing child sexual exploitation materials.

“Unquestionably, all child sexual exploitation materials are offensive, but in this case, the content is particularly egregious,” said ALERT Staff Sgt. Gordon MacDonald in a release issued Friday.

Penfold remains in custody.

His next court appearance is scheduled for June 18.

The investigation, meanwhile, continues.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to call their local police force (in Calgary, the non-emergency number is 403-266-1234).

Those wishing to remain anonymous can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.