Child pornography charges laid after search of Saskatchewan Mountie’s home

FOND DU LAC, Sask. — A Mountie in Saskatchewan is facing charges of accessing and possessing child pornography.

The 31-year-old officer, who has been with the force for more than four years, was stationed at Fond du Lac.

RCMP say computer devices were seized during a search of the man’s home in the remote northwestern community on Oct. 16.

He was removed from the detachment and suspended with pay, but charges were not laid until yesterday following an investigation by the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit.

Const. Aiden Arthur Pratchett has been released following an appearance before a justice of the peace and is to appear in Prince Albert provincial court on Jan. 28.

RCMP Supt. Alfredo Bangloy calls the allegations extremely disturbing.

“Allegations like these are disturbing when made against a member of the general public,” Bangloy said in release Tuesday.

“We find it extremely disturbing that a serving police officer is facing charges like this.”