Officials with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) said a joint investigation involving two organizations in the U.S. has ended with the arrest of two individuals for child exploitation crimes.
ALERT said an Alberta man, from the Kikino Metis Settlement, 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, was allegedly sharing child exploitation material with an inmate who was serving time in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Officers in Alberta arrested Peter Ritchie, 44, on August 26 with help from Lac La Biche RCMP.
Ritchie has been charged with possession, distribution, and making child pornography.
Police said Ritchie is a member of the Kikino Metis Settlement Fire Department, but it’s not suspected that any “contact offences” took place.
Its alleged Ritchie shared extremely graphic child exploitation materials with Christopher Grippe, 28, an inmate serving time in Tennessee.
It’s believed Grippe smuggled an electronic device into the prison, and connected with Ritchie through a social media application.
Officials said Grippe was serving an eight year sentence for sexual exploitation of a minor. He has now been indicted for distribution and possession of child pornography, and appeared before a Federal Grand Jury on September 20. His arraignment is set for October 3, and the charges carry a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, and up to 40 years.
Ritchie will appear in a Lac La Biche courtroom on October 31.
