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
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.