N.S. man facing 10 child sexual abuse and exploitation material offences

CITYnews halifax / By Rachel Morgan

One man remains in police custody facing 10 child sexual abuse and exploitation material offences following a report of mischief in Eskasoni.

RCMP responded to a report of a man causing mischief at a residence on Nov. 19. Upon arrival, police say officers learned a man had attempted to gain entry to the residence to see a youth who was inside.

Further investigation revealed the man had a relationship with the youth in September. Officers say that relationship began online.

On Nov. 22, RCMP executed a search warrant at the residence of Ethan Arnold Battiste in Chapel Island. An electronic device was seized and the 21-year-old man was placed under arrest.

Battiste is now facing 10 child sexual abuse and exploitation offences among other charges. The list of charges includes:

• Three counts of Sexual Interference;
• Three counts of Sexual Assault;
• Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Child;
• Luring a Child;
• Invitation to Sexual Touching;
• Making Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material;
• Break and Enter;
• Uttering Threats;
• Mischief Under $5000; and
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking.

Battiste remains in police custody pending a court appearance on Dec. 16.

Due to the accused’s online presence, investigators say they believe there may be additional victims. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Related:

• Charges laid in two cases of child pornography after search warrants
• Former swim instructor charged with sex assault, exploitation at youth facility
• Four people across Nova Scotia charged with child pornography offences
• Man charged with child pornography and child luring offences

Online child exploitation on the rise

With increasing access to the internet while digital literacy skills are struggling to keep up, online child exploitation is seeing a disturbing rise across the country.

According to a 2024 Parliamentary Notice from Public Safety Canada, the overall rate of online child sexual offence cases, including child pornography, has increased by 217 per cent since 2014. Indigenous and LGBTQ2S+ youth, as well as other minority communities, are more susceptible to these crimes.

According to IWK Health, Nova Scotia’s provincial health network, the province is underperforming on several important
indicators related to safety, belonging, and health among young people, which can leave children more susceptible to online exploitation.

In late October the Supreme Court of Canada struck down a one year minimum sentence for all cases of child pornography, saying the sweeping application covers a wide range of circumstances, making the sentence constitutionally vulnerable.

The ruling was immediately condemned by the Government of Nova Scotia, with Attorney General and Minister of Justice Scott Armstrong pointing to the vulnerability of underage victims.

“Child pornography offences are not abstract or victimless,” he said. “As a former school principal, I have seen first-hand the devastating harm that sexual exploitation of children can cause. These crimes cause deep and lasting harm to individuals, families, and communities both here at home and around the world. It can destroy lives, and in the most tragic cases, it leads to devastating consequences.”