24-Year-Old Welland Man Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material
In April of 2026, detectives assigned to the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit began an investigation into the possession of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM).
As a result of the investigation, a suspect male from Welland was identified. On August 27, 2026, detectives from the NRPS ICE Unit and Technological Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a Welland residence. As a result of the digital forensic examination, on September 3, 2026, members of the NRPS ICE Unit arrested 24-year-old David Ryan JONES of Welland for the following Criminal Code offences:
- Accessing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material
- Possession of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material x 2
JONES remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing on September 3, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.
Online platforms that allow like-minded users to engage with minors, create, share, and store Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM) are prevalent on the Internet. Offenders who attempt to lure children behind anonymous accounts 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.
NRPS Incidents 26-55023