Four Arrests In Child Exploitation Investigation
Jason (a.k.a Byrd) Dickens, 45, faces 19 child sexual exploitation charges and a bestiality charge while Dylan Anne McEwen, 31, faces nine child sexual exploitation charges and a bestiality charge.
At a press conference at police headquarters on August 25, Detective Michael Sabadin, of the Toronto Police Service Child Exploitation Section, said the investigation started on January 20, 2016 and that several search warrants were executed on April 25.
“During the execution of these warrants, a woman was located inside the residence and a man was located at his workplace,” he said. “The evidence allegedly revealed child pornography images.”
Police are alleging that Dickens used several screen names and email addresses, including Retrodeviant, Byrd_Dawg, Sir Dirk, [email protected], [email protected], retrodeviant2[email protected], [email protected] and [email protected].
As for McEwen, it’s alleged she used Doll, Dirty Doll; [email protected] and [email protected].
Investigators believe the two accused frequented collarspace.com, fetlife.com. bondage.com and slavefarm.com.
Dickens and McEwen are scheduled to appear in court on September 1.
As a result of this investigation, including the analysis of devices found during the search warrant, police allege that Dickens met a woman online, and in person, between January 2000 and January 2006.
It’s alleged they engaged in the sexual abuse of a child and made, possessed and distributed online, child sexual abuse images and videos.
A 57-year-old woman was arrested in London, Ontario and charged with two counts of sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and the making of child pornography and one count each of distribution and possession of child pornography.
She is scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on October 6.
Dickens faces six additional charges in relation to this case.
Police are alleging that Dickens met 25-year-old Tina Ewen of Thunder Bay and that they combined to make a child sexual video.
Ewen, charged with making child pornography, will appear in a Thunder Bay court on September 27.
Police are concerned that there might be more victims and additional groups of people who met with the accused and are involved in the sexual abuse of children.
Sex Crimes Inspector Pauline Gray said this is a very serious child exploitation investigation.
“This investigation has resulted in the rescue of children that were not only sexually abused, but then further exploited by having this abuse permanently captured by the recording of it,” she pointed out. “We believe that these child exploitation offenders would have had contact with other like-minded people on the internet and we are concerned there may be other victims.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sabadin at 416-808-7707; Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at 222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
