A vigilant parent's discovery has led to serious criminal charges against a local man accused of targeting a child online.
Aaron Paulson, 33, of Peterborough, was arrested following an investigation that began when a concerned parent contacted Peterborough County OPP on August 1. The parent had found sexually explicit images of an adult man on their 12-year-old's tablet, along with conversations on social media platforms the parent didn't know the child was accessing.
The discovery prompted the Peterborough County OPP Major Crime Unit to launch a full investigation into the allegations.
On August 13, a coordinated team of officers from the Peterborough County Major Crime Unit, the Offender Management Unit, and the City of Kawartha Lakes Major Crime Unit carried out a search warrant at a residence in Peterborough. Authorities located and arrested a suspect at the property.
Paulson now faces five charges. Two relate to alleged direct contact with the child: providing sexually explicit material to someone under 18 years old, and using telecommunications to lure a minor. The remaining three charges involve child sexual abuse and exploitation material, specifically possessing such material, accessing it, and creating or possessing it with intent to distribute.
Following his arrest, Paulson was held in custody and appeared for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough. The allegations against him have not been tested or proven in court.
This case underscores the importance of parents monitoring their children's online activity and maintaining open communication about internet safety. The quick action by this parent in contacting police may have prevented further harm to their child or others in our community.
