A man from British Columbia has been sentenced to five years in prison for sex crimes involving a minor he met through Snapchat.
According to RCMP in Campbell River, Dillon Caleb Partanen, a 33-year-old from Surrey, admitted guilt to charges of sexual interference and possession of child sexual exploitation material on January 13.
Partanen has been instructed to register with the National Sex Offender Registry and provide a DNA sample as part of his sentencing.
The incident dates back to 2023 when Partanen initiated contact with an unidentified minor via Snapchat. This eventually led to Partanen travelling to Campbell River in April 2024, where he engaged in criminal activities that resulted in charges being filed against him.
Upon immediate notification of the incident, RCMP apprehended Partanen, who was then prohibited from returning to Campbell River throughout the legal proceedings.
Campbell River Constable Maury Tyre emphasized the crucial message from this case, underscoring the inherent risks for young individuals in the digital realm. Tyre highlighted social media platforms as potential hotspots for individuals seeking to exploit and endanger young people.