Accused in Quebec child porn bust remain detained; return to court on Thursday

MONTREAL – The 14 accused in an alleged juvenile pornography ring in Quebec will remain behind bars until at least Thursday when some of them may be freed while awaiting trial.

A bail hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Montreal was put off and the Crown says it will verify whether some of the men can provide the assurances it is seeking before it agrees to their release.

“Most of them have given us certain guarantees, which we have to check and, as I’ve said, there will be preliminary hearings for some,” said Crown prosecutor Cynthia Gyenizse.

If the Crown is not satisifed once it verifies the information this week, a bail hearing will be held next week.

Thirteen men between 27 and 74 were arrested last week and face various charges, including possession and distribution of child pornography between 2003 and last month.

Authorities allege the men used online discussion forums to exchange information about their sexual experiences with children and to talk about what tactics to use and where to go to sexually abuse them.

A 14th man was nabbed over the weekend.

One of the accused, already detained in another matter when arrested on the child pornography charges, renounced his right to a bail hearing and will remain behind bars until the end of the case.

Police are looking for a 15th person.

They were arrested following a three-year investigation by Quebec provincial police and the RCMP.