Achi news desk-
A 53-year-old man is facing a long list of child pornography and sex-related charges after police allege he used a popular social media app to offer drugs and alcohol to older girls in exchange for nudity and sex.
The Edmonton Police Service said they began investigating earlier this month after receiving a report of a sexual assault on a young girl.
Police said their investigations revealed that between December 2023 and March this year, the accused allegedly befriended three girls – two aged 14 and 12 – using the social media application Snapchat.
Police said he used the username @used2bc. As of Thursday, that account went by the name “Ahgfes Lisbeb” but no other details like Snapscore or account age were available.
The police claim that the accused offered to buy vapes, marijuana and alcohol to the young people in exchange for nude images, videos and personal sexual contact.
“We are concerned that other young women may have been attracted by (the accused) through Snapchat,” said EPS child protection Det. Nicole Davies.
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All the young people are supported by the Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.
Horacio Benitez, 53, has been charged with:
- Two charges of sexual assault
- Two counts of sexual interference, which is touching a person who is under the age of consent – in Canada that is under 16 – for a sexual purpose
- Two counts of invitation to sexual contact
- Two counts of attracting a child
- Two counts of attracting a child
- Making child pornography
- Possession of child pornography
- Ensuring that sexuality is available to a child
- Two cases of obtaining sexual services for a child to consider
- Two counts of distributing cannabis to a youth (a person under the age of 18)
“We believe there may be other victims out there. If you have been in contact with Benitez, we urge you to come forward and report him to the police,” Davie said.
Benitez’s next court appearance is Tuesday, April 2.
Horacio Benitez, 53, has been charged with several sexual offenses and child pornography.
Edmonton Police Service
Anyone who believes they have been victimized by the accused is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a cell phone.
Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
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