Niagara Falls Man Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 2 District (Niagara Falls / Niagara-on-the-Lake) uniform officers were alerted to a suspicious person in the area of a public playground. A Niagara Falls man was identified as the suspect and placed under arrest by uniform patrol officers. Detectives assigned to the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit were alerted and subsequently began an investigation into the possession of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM).
As a result of the investigation, on Monday, June 8, 2026, detectives from the NRPS ICE Unit and Technological Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a Niagara Falls residence. On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, members of the ICE Unit arrested 48-year-old Bobby Terry MATHIESON of Niagara Falls for the following Criminal Code offences:
- Make Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material
- Possession of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material
- Fail to Comply with Prohibition Order
MATHIESON was held in custody after his initial arrest and is scheduled for a court appearance on Friday, June 12th, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.
Detectives in the ICE Unit are appealing to the public as it is believed that MATHIESON may have attended other public areas where children are known to be and are asking for assistance in identifying those dates and times. Below is a picture of MATHIESON. Anyone with any information is asked to contact 905-688-4111 ext. 1009128.
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 Incident 26-68437
