Three of the many men arrested earlier this year in an investigation into a large-scale sophisticated pedophile ring learned on Thursday that they will face new charges involving victims of alleged sex crimes.
Prosecutor Cynthia Gyenizse announced the new charges at the Montreal courthouse before a bail hearing for six men was about to resume. The men have been detained since their arrests near the end of January in Operation Malaise, a lengthy Sûreté du Québec investigation into at an alleged ring of at least 15 men who are charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.
The men who learned they now face new charges are the alleged ring leader Andre Faivre, Roger Lepage and Jean-Marc St-Hilaire. The charges were filed on Thursday but the accused were advised in the past that they were coming.
Another man accused in Operation Malaise, Claude Paquette, announced to Quebec Court Judge Julie Riendeau on Thursday that he no longer wants to be part of the ongoing bail hearing and renounced his right to have one.
He will remain detained until the end of his case.
More details to come.
