The Comox Valley RCMP - along with all other police forces - get their share of bad press, and seemingly not nearly the same ratio of positive press.
Certainly, when things run amok through any doing of theirs, it鈥檚 rarely missed by residents or media.
Conversely, when they do their job properly, things go well, and we accept, with no fanfare, that they are doing what they are paid to do. Admittedly, we don鈥檛 credit them often enough for the good results of their work.
This week, we collectively tip our hats to the Comox Valley RCMP for the work they did to bring down an American pedophile who was sexually exploiting numerous children, including one right here in the Valley.
RELATED: Comox Valley child one of 3 B.C. children sexually exploited by U.S. man
On Oct. 13, Kevin Robert McCarty, 37, of Happy Valley, Oregon, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for using social media to stalk three children online and coerce them into producing and sharing sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves.
When the youth refused to send more photos of themselves, McCarty threatened the victims by stating he would send the photos they already had of the youth to their friends and family members. On at least two occasions, McCarty told his victims they could either comply with his demands or commit suicide.
The case started in our home community, in May of 2021, when the Comox Valley RCMP received information that a local youth was being sexually exploited online.
Their investigation identified the suspect, and over the next few months, more victims were discovered.
The case was eventually handed over to U.S. Homeland Security.
Thankfully, this monster is now behind bars for the next two decades. We salute the Comox Valley RCMP, and all other agencies involved.
We also acknowledge the bravery of the young victims who came forward. While McCarty鈥檚 conviction and sentencing will offer some closure, these victims will undoubtedly suffer years, if not decades, of trauma.
We hope all the victims receive the help they will need to overcome this devastating experience.
