Posted:
Police have charged a Dartmouth man with child exploitation and firearms offences.
On May 21, information was received from the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a 10-year-old girl in the United States was in correspondence with a Canadian male believed to be an adult.
Communication between the two began in January 2025 and continued over various social media platforms, including Slowly and Snapchat. The man presented himself as a 15-year-old boy and the conversations included inappropriate sexual content. He also mailed the girl handwritten letters and gifts.
The Halifax Integrated Child Exploitation Unit worked closely with the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center in Wisconsin to further the investigation.
On June 5, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on Gaston Road in Dartmouth where electronic devices and firearms were seized. The suspect was arrested without incident.
John Aaron Shute, 42, has been remanded into custody. He will be scheduled to appear in Dartmouth provincial court at a later date to face charges of:
- Luring a child under 16
- Making child pornography
- Possession of child pornography
- Failure to comply with order
- Breach of probation order in relation to children (x2)
- Firearms related offences (x5)
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be laid.
Anyone with information about suspected child exploitation is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or by using the P3 Tips app.
There is no statute of limitation on sexual assaults. Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault is encouraged to contact police. Victims will be treated with compassion, dignity and respect throughout the entire investigative process.
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