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By Glory Przekop

GP man facing child sexual exploitation charges

Jan 31, 2018 | 9:14 AM

A Grande Prairie man faces child sexual exploitation charges and officers believe there could be more victims in northern Alberta and as far away as Australia.

Jonathan Karl Bruenig was arrested on Tuesday in his city home.

According to police, a family member of the victim contacted RCMP after it is alleged the suspect lured and attempted to sexually assault a Grande Prairie boy.

Police say the 34-year-old has also lived in Kelowna and was involved with “a number of junior hockey teams.”

ALERT Spokesperson Mike Tucker told our newsroom, Bruenig had ties to junior hockey teams including the Grande Prairie Storm, the JDA County Kings and the Beaverlodge Blades.  He also tried to start a junior team, the Grande Prairie North Stars.

Tucker said Bruenig did not have direct access to the players and served the teams in an administrative role.

Tucker says they mentioned his junior hockey involvement as a precaution. 

Investigators say the suspect’s name may not be familiar to victims as he used various online personas and would pose as a teenage girl on social media to lure teenaged boys.

It is believed additional victims could also be in northern British Columbia and Northwest Territories.

Bruenig has been charged with:

•           child luring (x 2);

•           making child pornography (x 2);

•           distributing child pornography (x 2); and

•           possessing child pornography (x 2)

He has been remanded in custody and will face a judge February 12, 2018.

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit is looking to identify and speak with other potential victims.

Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to call 780-509-3363 or submit information anonymously at cybertip.ca.

by Glory Przekop