Michael Sorenson, 39, of Noonan, New Brunswick, appeared in Fredericton Provincial Court on Friday to plead guilty to 23 of the 33 charges against him. The other 10 charges were dropped.
He pleaded guilty to sexual assault, solicitation of sexual touching, sexual exploitation, manufacture of child pornography, possession of child pornography and voyeurism.
Until 2020, Michael Sorenson owned a petting zoo with various farm animals in Noonan. His activities took him to travel to the Maritimes, where he hired laborers and stayed in hotels.
The crimes occurred at Sorenson’s small farm and residence and hotel rooms in Saint John, Miramichi and Halifax from 2008 to 2020.
Teen photos and videos
The victims, whose identities are protected by a publication ban because they were minors at the time of the events, were between the ages of 14 and 18 (in New Brunswick, the age of majority is 19).
An investigation was launched in 2020 when a first victim filed a complaint, suggesting she was not the only victim of abuse.
A subsequent search of the suspect’s home uncovered USB sticks and memory cards containing around 200 files named after several people.
These files included photos and videos of teenagers masturbating or showering after cleaning their employer’s stables, as well as a series of images of naked boys riding a donkey from Michael Sorenson’s farm.
The defendant admitted to paying a 16-year-old boy to stand naked on a donkey and filming him without his knowledge.
The statement of facts presented by the Crown on Friday says that several people seen in the pictures have been identified but have refused to speak to the police or to make a complaint.
Michael Sorenson was arrested on September 7, 2021 and charged in Fredericton on September 22. He initially pleaded not guilty, with a trial scheduled for February 2023. In January of this year, his attorney announced that the defendant would change his plea.
Sorenson remains on bail pending sentencing. It is due on July 21st.
QC Attorney Karen Lee said Friday that a joint submission with the defense will be made at the sentencing.