TBPS Cyber Crime Investigation Leads to Charges Against 19-Year-Old

February 6, 2026

TBPS lay multiple Criminal Code charges in youth sexual offence case; accused remanded after court.

Accused surrendered at police station; remanded into custody after first court appearance

THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay Police Service say a Cyber Crime Unit investigation has resulted in Criminal Code charges against a 19-year-old.

TBPS said the investigation began Dec. 3, 2025, after police received a report. Investigators later identified a suspect, who police say self-surrendered at the Thunder Bay Police Station on Jan. 20, 2026.

As a result of the investigation, Kayden Southerland, 19, is charged with:

Sexual Interference
Invitation to Sexual Touching (person under 16)
Sexual Assault (person under 16)
Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Person Under 16

Police said the accused was remanded into custody following a first court appearance.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

What the Criminal Code charges mean

These charges are commonly laid in cases involving alleged sexual offences against a person under 16:

Sexual interference (s. 151) involves touching a person under 16 for a sexual purpose.
Invitation to sexual touching (s. 152) alleges inviting, counselling, or inciting a person under 16 to touch (directly or indirectly) for a sexual purpose.
Sexual assault (s. 271) is a sexual assault allegation; the Criminal Code sets out enhanced penalties where the complainant is under 16.
Making sexually explicit material available to a child (s. 171.1) includes transmitting or making sexually explicit material available to a person the accused believes is under 16 in certain circumstances set out in the law.

Potential penalties if convicted

All four offences are hybrid, meaning the Crown can proceed by indictment or by summary conviction, which affects the maximum (and in some cases minimum) penalties.

Sexual interference — Criminal Code s. 151

Indictable: up to 14 years imprisonment; mandatory minimum 1 year
Summary: up to 2 years less a day; mandatory minimum 90 days

Invitation to sexual touching — Criminal Code s. 152

Indictable: up to 14 years; mandatory minimum 1 year
Summary: up to 2 years less a day; mandatory minimum 90 days

Sexual assault where complainant is under 16 — Criminal Code s. 271

Indictable (under 16): up to 14 years; mandatory minimum 1 year
Summary (under 16): up to 2 years less a day; mandatory minimum 6 months

Making sexually explicit material available to a child — Criminal Code s. 171.1

Indictable: up to 14 years; mandatory minimum 6 months
Summary: up to 2 years less a day; mandatory minimum 90 days

Sentencing, if there is a conviction, is determined by the court based on the facts proven, the Crown’s election, and the applicable sentencing principles.

Police seeking information

TBPS ask anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact Detective Constable Joel Manherz at (807) 684-1200 ext. 4115.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or online at p3tips.com.