Mother charged in sexual abuse investigation

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Niagara Regional Police have charged 5 people from the Niagara area, including a mother of two and one person from Toronto in connection with a child sexual abuse and exploitation investigation. The arrests were the result of a 9 month long investigation dubbed “Project Iceberg.”

Niagara police say 6 children were rescued following a lengthy child exploitation investigation, one of the victims was only 4-years-old. A woman and 5 men are facing a total of 77 charges including sexual assault on a person under 16 years old and making child pornography.

Project Iceberg began in November of last year after police were called to a stabbing in the Niagara area. Police say that’s when they were alerted about a possible sexual assault of a young child. A 33-year-old mother of two was arrested in January. Police allege she sexually assaulted both of her children, including her 4-year-old and that she supplied sexually explicit photos of her children to willing buyers.

Police are not releasing the names of the accused to protect the identity of the young victims. The six children, who are between the ages of 4 and 17, were removed from their homes and placed in the custody of child protective services. Police took over 60 electronic devices for forensic examination including cell phones, computers and cameras.