Child luring charge against Pemberton man after search at Whistler workplace

WHISTLER, B.C. – A 40-year-old Pemberton, B.C., man has been charged with trying to lure a child online.

The BC Integrated Child Exploitation unit says the charges follow a search warrant and arrest at a Whistler office in August.

The search warrant was issued after an investigation began in July when a member of the child exploitation unit posted an online message claiming to be a 13-year-old boy.

Police say the officer was approached online, conversations became increasingly sexual in nature, and the accused allegedly exposed himself during a video chat, even though the age of the decoy was clearly stated.

A search warrant was served on Aug. 12 at the Whistler workplace where the offences are alleged to have occurred, and Edward Luke Johnny was arrested and released on several conditions.

Johnny has been ordered to return to court in North Vancouver next month to face two criminal charges, including luring a child and making sexually explicit material available to a child.