Texas man sentenced to 14 years for exploiting eastern Ontario child he met in online video game
![Child exploitation A Vancouver Island man is facing multiple child-exploitation charges following a months-long investigation involving authorities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. (File photo)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/11/2/child-exploitation-1-6628543-1716918378577.jpg)
A 35-year-old man from Texas has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for luring a minor from the city of Quinte West, Ont.
The Quinte West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police began the child exploitation and luring investigation against the man in April of 2019. The victim, who was under the age of 14, met the man while playing a 'popular online game.'
A joint investigation by OPP, United States Homeland Security and the New Braunfels Police Department in Texas led to his arrest.
According to court documents, Jonathan Travis Flora, 35, held conversations that were often sexual in nature and exchanged nude photos and videos with the victim through gaming communication features and a phone messaging application.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas says Flora purchased a cell phone with a Canadian area code to continue communicating with the child under the guise that Flora was a classmate.
The victim's father received an unusually high phone bill and found the child had exchanged more than 2,000 phone messages in a two-day period. The victim then disclosed the interactions to OPP.
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"Preying on children will not be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas in a news release.
"This case reminds us that sexual predators can be found lurking in a multitude of places, including online video games, but it also shows the dedication shared by federal, state and international law enforcement to protect children and aggressively pursue those predators who manipulate them and prey upon their innocence."
A San Antonio, Texas court sentenced the man to 14 years in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
Flora, from New Braunfels, Texas has an outstanding warrant by OPP for the following offences:
- Possession of child pornography
- Transmit sexually explicit material to a person under 14 years of age
- Invitation to sexual touching under 16 years of age
- Makes, prints, publishes or possess for the purpose of publication child pornography
- Luring person under 14 years of age by means of telecommunication
OPP says it is committed to reducing the number of child predators and the threats they pose to children and communities.
More information and resources can be found at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7029443.1725744633!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
Police release video of Toronto plaza shooting that killed university student
A university student from Brampton was killed when two shooters fired indiscriminately into a crowded plaza in Toronto last month in what police say was a 'cowardly act.'
'Hopeless and helpless': Regina mother seeks help to treat rare spinal disease
Mary Grace Rico is seeking help in getting treatment for a rare spinal condition.
The iPhone is getting a 'glow' up. What to expect from Apple's Monday event
Apple excited fans with its vision for its 'Apple Intelligence' artificial intelligence system earlier this year. Now, it's time for the company to prove it really works.
No more porta-potties at B.C. construction sites starting Oct. 1
What some B.C. construction workers describe as the worst aspect of their jobs will be coming to an end next month, the province announced.
Trump campaigns in Wisconsin just days ahead of debate with Harris
With just days to go before his first — and likely only — debate against U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, former U.S. president Donald Trump leaned into his familiar grievances about everything from his indictments to the border as he campaigned in one of the most deeply Republican swaths of battleground Wisconsin.
'Extremely vigorous' wildfire activity in central B.C. prompts crews to back off for safety
The wildfire fight in central B.C. intensified Friday, according to officials.
They were due to leave for their dream cruise in May. Three months on they’re still stuck at the departure port
It was the years-long cruise that was supposed to set sail, but saw its departure postponed… postponed… and postponed again.
Aryna Sabalenka beats Jessica Pegula to win the U.S. Open for her third Grand Slam title
Aryna Sabalenka got past Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in a rollicking U.S. Open women’s final Saturday to win her first championship at Flushing Meadows and third Grand Slam title of her career.