Police believe there may be more victims in the area after a man was charged with several sexual offences.
At least six child luring and sexual assault victims have been identified following an investigation by Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE). According to ICE, Imesh Ratnayake has been charged following several child luring instances in the Morinville and Edmonton areas.
Police alleged the 21-year-old met the youth, one as young as 11, online and lured them into performing sexual acts. The investigation began in June, and Ratnayake was arrested on July 7 this year.
“ICE alleges that Ratnayake targeted young girls via the social media application Snapchat. He was able to perpetuate the offences by gaining access to the victim’s contacts, in some instances through extortion,” read a police release.
Ratnayake faces several charges, including:
- Sexual assault
- Sexual interference
- Luring a child
- Making child pornography
- Transmitting child pornography
- Possessing child pornography
- Obtaining sexual service for consideration from persons under 18
- Invitation to sexual touching
- Distribution of intimate images
- Extortion
Ratnayake was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on August 4, 2022, in Morinville.
Police believe there could be additional victims; Ratnayake would have been known to his victims as the Snapchat user “islandsauce0129” or “monked.ruffy”. Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to call ICE at 780-509-3363, their local police, or anonymously at Crime Stoppers.
