Man charged in sexual assaults of 2 teen girls, woman in Winnipeg

A42-year-old man is charged with sexual assault and many other offences after Winnipeg police say heused social media and a fake name tolure and then attack two teen girls and a woman.

Police believe there may be morevictims.

The police service'scounter-exploitation and child abuse units started investigating separate incidents in April 2022.

Investigators saidin Marchand April a man made contact with the victims on social media and gained their trust before sexually assaulting them.

He identified himself online as Eddie Brigance, police said.

On June 27, 2022, a man was arrested and amobile phone seizedfor forensic analysis.

He was then charged with luringa person under 18 and a person under 16, obtaining sexual services from a person under 18, sexual assault, sexual interferenceand invitation to sexual touching.

He was also charged with making or possessing child pornographyfor the purpose of publication.

He was released on a court order prohibiting contact with anyone under 18, police said.

The investigation continued andon Sept.14, 2022, he was arrested again and charged withobtaining sexual services from a person under 18, sexual interference, sexual assault and invitation to sexual touching.

A police spokesperson would not say which arrest involved theassault of the woman, who was in her 20s. The spokesperson said the charges represent all of the alleged crimes.

Asked why it took more than a year to announce the charges, the spokesperson saidthere was a lot of electronic information for investigators to still sift through, and based on that, police "are looking at the likelihood of more potential victims."

"This is very much still an active investigation," the spokesperson said.

"I think the main message we want to get out to the public is to be careful who you're communicating with. Keep in mind there are predators out there. Just because they say who they are doesn't mean that's who's behind the keyboard."

Anyone with information or who wishes to speak to an investigator is asked to call the child abuse unit at 204-986-3296 or call Crime Stoppers anonymouslyat 204-786-TIPS. Anonymous tips can also be left on the Crime Stoppers website.