Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) have arrested a junior girl’s football coach from Lethbridge who has since been charged with multiple child sexual exploitation offences, including the allegation that he was using artificial intelligence to make child pornography.
The suspect was arrested by the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit on July 16 with help from the Lethbridge Police Service. The individual has been charged with making, distributing, possessing and accessing child pornography, as well as transmitting an intimate image without consent.
The coach allegedly used AI to manipulate and sexualize photos of underage girls. ICE’s investigation is still ongoing and in the process of identifying possible victims. A number of computers and other electronic devices were seized from the suspect and are being analyzed by ICE forensic investigators.
ICE says that the images were being shared via the social media application Kik. The investigation dates back to November of last year, but the coach has been the only suspect.
“We can recognize how these allegations will impact athletes, parents, and the football community. We appreciate how there will be a lot of unanswered questions, but our investigation is ongoing and we are in the process of combing through the evidence to learn more,” said Staff Sergeant Mark Auger, ALERT ICE.
38-year-old Justin Tillery has since been released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions, including preventing him from coaching anyone under the age of 18. He is scheduled to appear in court in Lethbridge on August 8.
