A 30-year-old man from Saint John, N.B., has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an investigation into images of child sexual abuse.
The investigation, led by the New Brunswick RCMP's Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit, began in July 2020, following information received from the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre.
On June 1, 2021, police executed a search warrant at a home on Killam Drive, in Moncton. Police seized several electronic devices, and a 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene.
On October 26, 2021, Paul Jason James Pidgeon appeared in Moncton Provincial Court and was charged with possession of child pornography and making available child pornography. He was released on strict conditions.
On April 27, 2022, Paul Jason James Pidgeon was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by a two-year probation order upon his release.
Paul Jason James Pidgeon is on the National Sex Offender Registry for life, and will be required to submit a DNA sample. Following his release from jail, he will have to abide by conditions set out by the court, including not communicating with anyone under the age of 16, and to not attend any place that someone under the age of 16 is known to be for a period of 10 years.
The New Brunswick RCMP's Internet Child Exploitation Unit includes members from the Saint John Police Force and the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force. The RCMP's Digital Forensics Services Unit, the Saint John Police Force and the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre assisted with the investigation.