In May of 2024, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Detectives assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit began an investigation into the uploading and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material over a social media platform.
On August 29, 2024, Detectives from Niagara Regional Police service Internet Child Exploitation Unit and Technological Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a private residence in St. Catharines and seized numerous devices capable of storing electronic data. Stephen Gregory COMIS (68 years) of St. Catharines was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- 2 counts of Possession of Child Pornography
- 1 count of Accessing Child Pornography
- 1 count of Making Child Pornography Available
- 1 count of Fail to Comply with Prohibition Order
Stephen Gregory COMIS was held in custody after his arrest and is set to appear for a bail hearing on August 30, 2024, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.
The NRPS would like to acknowledge and thank the Federal Bureau of Investigations for their assistance.
Online platforms that allow like-minded users to engage with minors, create, share, and store Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) are prevalent on the Internet. Offenders who attempt to lure children behind an anonymous account on different platforms can be identified and will be held accountable for their actions.
For more information on how parents and guardians can keep children safe online CLICK HERE
The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet and conducts investigations into Internet Child Exploitation Offences in partnership with Ontario Police Services and International Partners. This investigative initiative has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.
Incident #24-60493