Kingston, Ont. man facing 76 charges in major sex crimes investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say a 38-year-old Kingston man is facing 76 criminal charges following a lengthy investigation into numerous sexual crimes.
OPP say the investigation, dubbed “Project Shamrock,” began in January when Kingston police were made aware of allegations that a man was luring victims through social media.
Kingston police, Ottawa police, Peterborough police and the OPP co-ordinated on the investigation.
Initially, 10 victims were identified. Police say they are now safe. Additional victims were later identified and more charges were laid, police said.
Michael Mark Haaima, 38, of Kingston, is facing the following charges:
- Sexual assault - eighteen counts
- Unlawfully access child pornography - five counts
- Obtaining sexual services for consideration - four counts
- Forcible confinement - four counts
- Assault - three counts
- Harassment by watching and besetting
- Overcome resistance to offence/attempt to choke - three counts
- Criminal harassment by communication
- Sexual assault with choking - four counts
- Uttering threats/death or bodily harm - four counts
- Compulsions to commit bestiality
- Mischief under $5000
- Invitation to sexual touching - two counts
- Sexual interference - two counts
- Procuring/person under 18 years
- Trafficking of a person under 18 years
- Obtaining sexual services for consideration under 18 - four counts
- Overcome resistance to commit sexual assault
- Sexual assault cause bodily harm
- Luring for Invitation to Sexual Touching
- Luring for Making Child Pornography
- Aggravated sexual assault - two counts
- Make child pornography - two counts
- Make available child pornography - two counts
- Possess child pornography - three counts
- Extortion - two counts
- Assault with a weapon, and,
- Voyeurism
The accused remains in custody.
"The success of Project Shamrock is an important message that as a policing community, we continue to be committed to investigating and holding those that commit these predatory crimes accountable," Kingston Police Chief Antje McNeely said in a statement. "We will work tirelessly to help reduce victimization and protect the most vulnerable in our communities."
Investigators believe there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward and contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police.
Police say if you or someone you know may be a victim of these crimes, call 9-1-1 immediately.
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-900-1010. Human trafficking resources are available at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.