In March of 2025, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Detectives assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detectives assigned to the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit began a joint undercover investigation into the luring of minors using the Internet.
Over the course of the investigation, the suspect is alleged to have communicated for a sexual purpose unknowingly with the undercover police officer, believing them to be young persons under the age of 16.
On April 3, 2025, Detectives from the NRPS ICE Unit and Offender Management Unit (OMU) identified and arrested 39-year-old Johnathan Jeffrey AHLSTEDT of West Lincoln for the following Criminal Code offences:
Luring a Child via Telecommunication to Facilitate Sexual Interference x 2 Luring a Child via Telecommunication to Facilitate Sexual Assault x 2
Johnathan Jeffrey AHLSTEDT is currently being held in custody pending a bail hearing on April 4, 2025, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.
Online platforms that allow like-minded users to engage with minors, create, share, and store Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) are prevalent on the Internet. Offenders who attempt to lure children behind anonymous accounts on different platforms can be identified and will be held accountable for their actions.
For more information on how parents and guardians can keep children safe online CLICK HERE
The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet and conducts investigations into Internet Child Exploitation Offences in partnership with Ontario Police Services and International Partners. This investigative initiative has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.
Incident #25-33321
