Abbotsford man charged with child porn; police say thousands of images found on computers

ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – An Abbotsford man who faces three child porn charges after police say thousands of incriminating images were found on his computers has been released from custody with conditions.

Police say the investigation started last year.

“Both US and Canadian law enforcement had information that he was possibly committing those crimes,” says Constable Ian MacDonald. “The investigation… ultimately culminated last month, with a search warrant being executed at his residence and with the seizure of numerous computer and data storage devices.”

“Through an examination of those devices, we found thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse,” he adds.

Travis Butler, 38, was arrested yesterday. He has been charged with two counts of Making Available Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography.

Butler was not previously known to police, which MacDonald says isn’t surprising. “In the numbers — and it’s probably dozens — of news releases that I’ve done on individuals who have been charged with child pornography offenses, if there’s a common theme, it’s that they aren’t significant in terms of previous criminal history.”

He has been released from custody on the under the following court ordered conditions:

• Not to have contact or communicate with, or be alone with, anyone who reasonably appears to be under 18 years of age (unless that person is acting in the course of their employment in a retail or service industry setting)
• Not to attend any public park, school, daycare center, swimming pool, playground, skating rink, community centre or recreational center where persons under the age of 18 are present or might reasonably be expected to be present
• Not to engage in computer activity that involves contact with any person under the age of 18
• Not to possess or utilize any electronic device capable to accessing the internet
• Not to possess or utilize any encryption software or any form of file erasing utility
• Not to contact any person known to be involved in the sexual exploitation of children or possessing child sexual exploitation materials

Anyone with information about Butler is asked to call the Major Crime Unit of the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.