How Could You? Hall of Shame-Canada-Samer Temraz UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Edmonton, Canada, “the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) announced charges including sexual exploitation, sexual assault and making child pornography against a 40-year-old Edmonton man who worked at a group home.

The man was arrested Nov. 2 after an investigation by ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit. Police believe there may be other victims.

“For a vulnerable population like our youth to be in a position where they’re offended upon by a person responsible for their care makes the circumstances much more exigent for us,” Staff Sgt. Stephen Camp said during a news conference.

He said the case was particularly “egregious” because it involved a person in a position of trust. At one point, Camp had to pause to collect himself while discussing the allegations.

Local police first learned of IP addresses being used to access child pornography from the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre, which said a person was using the devices to upload child porn to the internet.

Police eventually tracked one of the IP addresses to the group home.

After identifying and arresting the suspect, investigators conducted a forensic analysis of his computers and electronic devices and “uncovered evidence of sexual assault committed against a youth,” a Wednesday news release said.

“It was quickly determined the victim was a current group home resident,” Camp said.

Police did not identify the group home, which housed kids aged 11 to 17, to help protect the identity of the victim.

So far, they’ve found “thousands of images” on a number of devices, Camp said.

“We’re into double digits on the (number of) devices. On a typical warrant, we’ll get iPads, hard drives from computers in the office, and then phones. There’s also USB sticks, SIM cards, all sorts of stuff that we can acquire from a search warrant because they’re all storage devices that can store child pornography.”

Investigators have been interviewing youth who previously had contact with the man, while Alberta Children’s Services is also supporting the investigation. The Edmonton police sexual assault section and the Zebra Centre for Child Protection are also involved.

“Part of this press conference is to let people know that if there are children out there that were overseen by this accused to come and report it,” he said.

Samer Temraz is charged with sexual exploitation, sexual assault, sexual interference, possession of child pornography, transmitting child pornography and making child pornography. He was to appear in court Dec. 5.

‘Some people slip by’

Children’s Service Minister Danielle Larivee said Wednesday they have “extensive” requirements for screening for staff, which would be reviewed in light of the charges.

“But the truth is, with all the screening processes in the world, inevitably some people slip by,” she said. “As soon as it comes to light, absolutely we immediately take it incredibly seriously and act on it.” 

Camp said Temraz worked at the group home for around eight years, and that police are working to determine whether he worked at other group homes before that.

Children at the home where the man worked were “particularly vulnerable,” he said, including children with disabilities and other issues.

Camp did not specify the man’s job at the home, but said he was involved in general day-to-day care for children. His role sometimes required him to stay at the home overnight. There were also periods of time where he worked alone, and he would also bring kids on day trips outside the home.

ALERT is an integrated provincial policing unit that investigates guns, gangs, drugs and sexual offences against minors.”

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/edmonton-group-home-worker-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-child-in-care

[Edmonton Journal 12/5/18 by Jonny Wakefield]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “A former Edmonton group home worker charged with child pornography-related offences was sentenced to 12 years behind bars on Friday afternoon.

The sentence was handed down to Samer Temraz, after he pleaded guilty to a handful of charges including sexual interference, unlawfully touching a minor and making, possessing and distributing child porn.

In November 2018, the 40-year-old was charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old child in his care at a local group home.

While being sentenced Friday, court heard Temraz offended on at least two boys — one age 11 and other 13. Some of the offences date back to 2008.

Court heard that Temraz made 144 videos of the 11-year-old within a two-and-a-half-month timeline.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Temraz also invited another man to take part in the sexual exploitation of the younger victim.

Court heard Friday that the second boy was identified after the initial charges were laid.

The investigation began after the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit received information from the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre about a person accessing child porn.

Police said after the arrest, they found evidence on Temraz’s computer and several other electronic devices.

One victim’s mother was so upset by seeing the offender on CCTV in court that she yelled at him and ran out of the courtroom before she could read her victim impact statement.

In total, three victim impact statements were presented. One of the victim’s caseworkers described the trauma he experienced, saying:

“You have impacted the life of this young man so much that he will suffer for the rest of him life.”

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the child’s identity, went on to say the group home was supposed to be a safe place for the boy, but instead, “it set the stage for your disgusting, filthy abuse of power and abuse of authority,” she said, addressing Temraz.

“You betrayed his trust, took advantage of him in the most hideous way any adult could hurt a child.”

She said she learned Temraz befriended the child and quickly gained his trust – to the point that court heard the child was very reluctant to tell police about the abuse, denying it multiple times before eventually revealing what occurred.

“He has to live with the shame of someone taking advantage full advantage of him. These actions are reprehensible.”

The group home is not being named to protect the identity of the victim, investigators with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) said.

ALERT noted Temraz worked at the group home in question for about eight years and was with children overnight and often often alone.

Temraz will receive credit for 25 months already spent in custody.”

Edmonton group home worker given 12-year sentence for child pornography offences

[Global News 4/17/2020 by April Ryan]