Police say investigation began with national alert tied to Discord; devices seized during November search

THUNDER BAY — February 10, 2026 — Thunder Bay Police Service say a cyber crime investigation into Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM) has resulted in charges against a Thunder Bay man following a search warrant and a forensic review of electronic devices.

Police say the Cyber Crime Unit began the investigation on July 21, 2025, after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) through Canada’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC).

Investigators later executed a search warrant at a south-end Thunder Bay residence on November 28, 2025, seizing several electronic devices for analysis. Police allege the investigation relates to CSAEM being shared online, including through Discord.

What is Discord?

Discord is an online communications platform where people join servers (groups) to share text messages, voice/video chats, and files. It’s widely used for gaming and community groups, but like many social platforms it can also be misused to share illegal content.

Charges and potential penalties

Police say Jayden Belanger, 28, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:

• Possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material

• Accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material

Both offences are laid under Criminal Code section 163.1. These are hybrid offences, meaning the Crown can proceed either by indictment or summary conviction. If convicted, the Criminal Code provides:

• Up to 10 years imprisonment if prosecuted by indictment, with a mandatory minimum of 1 year; or

• Up to two years less a day if prosecuted summarily, with a mandatory minimum of 6 months.

The accused has been released from custody with a future court date.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Police urge vigilance and offer reporting and prevention resources

Thunder Bay Police emphasize that parents and caregivers are “the frontline” in protecting children online and encourage continued vigilance with devices and apps. Information and reporting tools are available through Cybertip.ca, Canada’s national tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children.

Police also point to resources through the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), including the Talking for Change program (TalkingForChange.ca), which offers support for people concerned about the risk of using child sexual exploitation material or offending against a child.

Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked 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 via p3tips.com.