BURLINGTON, ON – A 78-year-old man has been arrested and charged with multiple child exploitation-related offenses following a joint investigation involving the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC), and authorities in the Philippines.
The investigation began in April and culminated in the August 28th arrest of Douglas Ridpath, a resident of Burlington.
Ridpath faces the following serious charges:
Make Child Pornography (6 counts)
Accessing Child Pornography
Possession of Child Pornography
Agree or Arrange a Sexual Offence Against a Child (3 counts)
Indecent Act (2 counts)
Indecent Exposure to Person Under 16
Sexual Assault (2 counts)
Sexual Exploitation (2 counts)
Police confirmed that Ridpath is currently in custody and awaiting a bail hearing.
The HRPS is reminding the public—especially parents—about the importance of monitoring children’s online activity and discussing internet safety, especially regarding the sharing of personal information online.
For more resources on keeping children safe online, the HRPS encourages visiting their official website or internet safety awareness platforms.
