Halifax, Antigonish: 2 men charged in child exploitation cases

Two men have been charged following investigations into child sexual abuse and exploitation material in Halifax Regional Municipality and Antigonish, the Nova Scotia RCMP said in a November 9 release.

On October 1, the RCMP and HRP integrated internet child exploitation unit received information from the FBI about a Halifax-area man identified in an investigation based in Tennessee. Investigators said the man had posted child sexual abuse and exploitation material online.

Police searched the man’s home and a business in Halifax Regional Municipality that day. They seized electronic devices and arrested him at the business, according to the RCMP.

Breton E. W. Mitchell, 39, is charged with making, distributing and possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material. He appeared in Halifax Provincial Court on October 2, remains in custody and is scheduled to return on November 26.

While examining the seized devices, investigators identified an Antigonish-area man who had communicated with the Halifax-area man about the sexual abuse of a child, police said.

On November 4, police searched a home in Antigonish, arrested a 49-year-old man and seized electronic evidence. Gary Kennedy Chisholm is charged with making arrangements to commit a sexual offence against a child. He was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Antigonish Provincial Court on December 23.

Both investigations remain ongoing, the RCMP said.

Reporting material

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

Police file numbers: 26-153399 and 2026-1542274.