A Nova Scotia man is facing 64 charges, most of them sexual in nature, involving at least 17 victims.
Paul Theriault JR, 45, was arrested Wednesday by investigators from multiple agencies, including members of the Nova Scotia Provincial Human Trafficking Unit, officers from the Cape Breton Regional Police Service and officers from the Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Mounted Police.
This arrest is the result of an investigation launched in 2021 when multiple victims reported that a man was targeting women in the Cape Breton region, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a news release Friday.
During the investigation, investigators discovered evidence that women were being filmed without their consent and that these videos were being published and sold on the Internet.
In total, 17 people came forward to talk about events between 2008 and 2023, but investigators say there could be more.
“Through the efforts of this collective investigation, we have been able to put an end to behavior that is extremely concerning for the safety of people in our community,” said Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Robert Walsh.
Mr Theriault is therefore charged with two counts of human trafficking, three counts of obtaining sexual services for remuneration, four counts of communication with the aim of obtaining sexual services, two counts of pimping, ten counts of sexual assault and in eleven cases of publishing intimate images without consent, one of sexual assault causing bodily harm, four of voyeurism, one of blackmail and one of sexual harassment.
The man is also charged with two counts of possession of child pornography, 11 counts of drug trafficking, six counts of administering a harmful substance, four counts of enticing a child through telecommunications, one count of solicitation of sexual touching and one count of possession. illegal prohibited weapon.
Mr. Theriault had a court hearing on Thursday and will remain in custody until his next appearance on December 12.