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By Mike Vanden Bosch

B.C. man arrested, charged

Americans alert B.C. RCMP about abhorrent activities allegedly committed by B.C. man

May 28, 2024 | 10:49 AM

SURREY – A Vancouver Island man has been arrested and charged with abhorrent child exploitation offences after a joint investigation involving the B.C. RCMP, U.S. Homeland Security and West Shore RCMP.

According to a news release from Constable Solana Paré of the RCMP’s Integrated Child Exploitation Unit, the British Columbia Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (BC ICE) received information in September 2023 from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) regarding a suspect believed to be in British Columbia allegedly participating in child exploitation offences on a social media application. BC ICE immediately initiated an investigation and identified a male suspect who allegedly lured three female youth victims online and exploited them, while making child sexual abuse material of them and making the media available on the internet for others to see.

In January 2024, BC ICE and West Shore RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence in Langford and a male suspect was taken into custody and arrested. In May 2024, the BC Prosecution Service approved seven charges under the Criminal Code against Jae Alexander Hegan, a 31-year-old man from the Langford area:

• One count of making or publishing child pornography, contrary to section 163.1(2)
• One count of making child pornography available, contrary to section 163.1(3)
• One count of possession of child pornography, contrary to section 163.1(4)
• One count of accessing child pornography, contrary to section 163.1(4.1)
• One count of making sexually explicit material available to a person under the age of 16, contrary to section 171.1(1)(b)
• Two counts of child luring, contrary to section 172.1(1)(b)

After his arrest, Hegan was released on a number of protective conditions, including those restricting his access to the internet and children under the age of 16.

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“Online child exploitation poses a grave threat to the well-being of our youth, and this case highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation in combating these crimes. We recognize the dedication and collaboration investigative units across Canada and the United States have, to work tirelessly together to identify, arrest and charge online predators,” said Staff Sergeant Natalie Davis of BC ICE. “Predators are online and accessing our youth at home, in the privacy of their bedrooms. It is important for adults to have conversations with the youths in their lives about how to stay safe online.”

The investigation remains ongoing. No further information will be released, police said, as the matter is now before the court.