Amherst Man, 58, Charged With Child Luring After Online Investigation

An Amherst man has been charged with child luring and making sexually explicit material available to a child following an online investigation, Nova Scotia RCMP said. Officers seized electronic evidence at a home on Central Avenue in Amherst on Nov. 3.

The RCMP’s Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Unit began investigating in October after a report that a man had communicated online with a youth for a sexual purpose, police said.

Members of the exploitation unit and RCMP Digital Forensic Services executed a search warrant at the home. Amherst police, Cumberland County RCMP, the Cumberland County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit and the RCMP Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit supported the search.

Luc Georges Castonguay, 58, is charged with luring a child and making sexually explicit material available to a child. Police said he was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Amherst Provincial Court on Jan. 25.

Police urge families to discuss online safety

Investigators believe additional victims may have been targeted online. They are urging parents and guardians to talk with their children about online safety and to report suspicious activity or communication to local police. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection also offers supports and resources.

In Nova Scotia, people must report suspected child sexual abuse and exploitation material to local police or Canada’s national tipline at www.cybertip.ca, the RCMP said. Failure to report may result in penalties under the Child Pornography Reporting Act.

The police file number is 2026-1564799.