A 38-year-old man from Oromocto, N.B., has been sentenced to two years in prison for charges stemming from an investigation by the Internet Child Exploitation Unit.
The investigation began in February 2019, as a result of information received from the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre. In June 2019, a search warrant was executed at a home on in Oromocto and a 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene. He was released on conditions pending further investigation. Several electronic devices were seized during the search.
On August 27, 2020, Matthieu Gagnon appeared in Fredericton Provincial Court and was sentenced to two years in prison for transmitting child pornography and one year for possession of child pornography. The time is to be served concurrently.
Matthieu Gagnon has been added to the National Sex Offender Registry for life, and will be required to submit a DNA sample. Following his release from prison, he will have to abide by conditions set out by the court for a period of five years, including not to be near children.
The New Brunswick RCMP's Internet Child Exploitation Unit includes members of the Saint John and Kennebecasis Regional Police Forces. The RCMP's Digital Forensic Services, the Saint John Police Force and the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre were also involved in this investigation.