A man from Hensall and another from Ayton are among dozens of people facing charges after a wide-ranging investigation by several police forces.
The Ontario Provincial Police announced on Thursday the results of Project Support, a luring investigation that ran from March 31 to April 11. According to police, investigators went undercover, posing as children in online chatrooms and social media platforms to "identify, locate and arrest persons looking to sexually exploit children."
The investigation led to 128 charges against 36 people, all of them men between the ages of 18 and 73.
A 45-year-old man from Hensall is charged with making child pornography and luring a person under the age of 16. He was released from custody and is to appear in court in Goderich on June 16.
A 56-year-old man from Ayton is charged with three counts of luring a person under the age of 16, two counts of making sexually explicit material available to a child, and two counts of personation to avoid arrest. He was released from custody with a court date of August 6 in Walkerton.
Police say that, while the investigation involved officers posing as children, it uncovered nine actual child victims. Police say those victims are now receiving support.
"These results highlight a sobering reality: predators can easily reach children in online spaces," said OPP Detective Staff Sergeant Tim Brown. "We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to talk to your children about staying safe online. Just as you wouldn't leave your child alone in a city, don't let them navigate the online world alone."
According to police, one of the 36 accused arrived at an arranged meeting location with sexual paraphernalia and one was listed on the National Sex Offender Registry.