A British Columbia man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of sextortion involving teenagers in Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The accused, 27-year-old Michael Patrick McNutt, was arrested on March 4th in Surrey, BC, after a joint investigation by the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre (NCECC) and local police forces.
According to the RCMP, McNutt allegedly used social media platforms to target and exploit teenage girls, coercing them into sending him sexually explicit images and videos. He then allegedly threatened to share the material online if the victims did not comply with his demands for more explicit content.
The investigation began in October 2020 when the NCECC received a report from a 15-year-old girl in Nova Scotia who had been targeted by McNutt. The investigation quickly expanded to include other victims in Ontario and Quebec.
RCMP Superintendent Darren Campbell, Officer in Charge of the NCECC, emphasized the importance of reporting these types of crimes to law enforcement. “We want to remind parents and guardians to have open and honest conversations with their children about online safety and the potential risks of sharing personal information and images,” he said in a statement.
McNutt has been charged with multiple counts of extortion, luring a child, and making and distributing child pornography. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on March 11th.
The RCMP is asking anyone with information about this case or any other incidents involving McNutt to come forward and contact their local police or the NCECC at 1-866-658-9022. They also urge parents and guardians to monitor their children’s online activities and report any suspicious behavior.
