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Police say charges have been laid against a former Fredericton-area petting zoo owner in a sexual exploitation investigation.
Mounties say they began their investigation in February 2019 after a complaint was received through Cybertip.ca.
In June 2020, officers searched a home on Route 10 in Noonan, where they seized electronic devices and arrested one man.
Michael Sorenson, 38, appeared in Fredericton Provincial Court on Wednesday to face six charges:
- two counts of sexual exploitation
- invitation to sexual touching
- voyeurism
- making child pornography
- possessing child pornography
According to New Brunswick RCMP, the charges stem from incidents that are alleged to have occurred between 2008 and last year.
Police said they have identified several New Brunswick victims and are actively working to identify other potential victims.
“We know this individual used to own a petting zoo in Noonan until 2020 and would travel across the province to different events, hiring locals who stayed at hotels with him,” Sgt. Nick Arbour said in a news release.
Police are asking any victims or those with information to contact the New Brunswick RCMP’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 506-452-3405 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Man facing six charges including sexual exploitation; RCMP seeking information from public , https://t.co/z7aocehntI #Noonan
— RCMP New Brunswick (@RCMPNB) July 14, 2021
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