A Sherbrooke sex offender has been arrested again after falling into a trap set for him by police. Marc Banfill, 45, had arranged to meet an 8-year-old girl and her mother in a hotel room, but the latter was actually a police officer.
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Thanks to this virtual infiltration operation, police were able to arrest Marc Banfill at his home on LaRocque Street in Sherbrooke on Thursday evening.
On Friday, the 45-year-old appeared in court to face four charges, including the manufacture and distribution of child pornography and entering into an agreement or understanding for the purpose of committing an offense of sex with a child.
“The defendant spoke to the virtual mother of a virtual 8-year-old child who was in reality a police officer, says DPCP prosecutor Marie-Ève Phaneuf. They had agreed to go to a hotel room together to engage in sexual relations.
In 2016, Marc Banfill was sentenced to a federal sentence for crimes related to child pornography. His name had also been entered on the sex offender registry. At the time of his arrest, he was still waiting for a prescription.
The 45-year-old will remain behind bars at least until Tuesday, when his release hearing is scheduled. “Given the gentleman’s background and the seriousness of the crimes he is charged with, we oppose his release,” said Mr Phaneuf. We also consider the risk of relapse to be significant.