Warning, the following story contains details that are disturbing.
A Marshall, Saskatchewan man who resided in the same home that a child daycare was operating in, is facing numerous charges related to child pornography.
RCMP say in July, a search warrant was conducted on 1st Avenue East in Marshall, after receiving a report from an online application that child pornography videos were uploaded on their platform.
It was determined that a home-based day care was operating at this residence. Investigators alerted the Ministry of Education the same day, July 14, 2021, regarding the investigation into the matter.
At the residence, investigators found two cellphones and two laptops. The devices were provided to investigators, who forensically examined them.
During this complex investigation, which included multiple specialized RCMP units, investigators located images of unknown children being sexually assaulted by a man.
The Ministry of Education suspended the daycare license on July 16, 2021, and advised all parents of the changes.
As a result 40-year-old Joseph Sproull, was arrested on Tuesday.
Sproull has been charged with the following;
• 1 count, Possession of child pornography, Section 163.1(4), Criminal Code;
• 1 count, Distribution of child pornography, Section 163.1(3), Criminal Code;
• 3 counts, Sexual assault, Section 271, Criminal Code;
• 3 counts, Sexual interference, Section 151, Criminal Code;
• 3 counts, Making available child pornography, Section 163.1(2), Criminal Code.
Sproull has been remanded in custody and will appear in court Wednesday in North Battleford.
In a release RCMP said investigators are working to identify the children in the images. They are meeting with the parents of the children who attended the daycare. Support, including victim services, is being offered to all individuals affected by these incidents.
At the present time, investigators believe three children were being assaulted in the photographs.
The victims are all young children, RCMP will not release publicly the specific age of the victims to protect their identity.
Marshall is about 20 kilometres east of Lloydminster.
