RCMP-RNC IICE charges Mount Pearl man with online child exploitation offences

Following a lengthy investigation conducted by the RCMP-RNC Integrated Internet Child Exploitation (IICE) Unit, 43-year-old Edward Baldwin of Mount Pearl was arrested on December 19, 2023, and is charged with online child exploitation offences.

In March of 2023, IICE executed a search warrant at a Mount Pearl home in relation to a report of online child exploitation activity. Electronics were seized and subsequently analyzed.

The results of the forensic analysis, as well as other evidence collected, led to Baldwin's arrest on Tuesday. He is charged with the following criminal offences:

• Transmitting Child Pornography - one count
• Possession of Child Pornography - three counts

In accordance with arrest and release procedures, Baldwin was released on conditions designed to protect the general public. He is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court in St. John's on March 5, 2024.

Child pornography cases require complex forensic examination of seized electronics followed, by additional investigation actions. Consequently, criminal charges in these cases are often laid up to 9-12 months after the execution of a search warrant.

The RCMP-RNC IICE team encourages caregivers and youth to learn about current online threats and safety practices at cybertip.ca, protectchildren.ca, kidsintheknow.ca and dontgetsextorted.ca.