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Two local men nabbed in child porn investigation

Two Yukon men were arrested this week on child pornography charges. One is also facing 19 charges related to firearms.

Two Yukon men were arrested this week on child pornography charges. One is also facing 19 charges related to firearms.

After an ongoing investigation, the RCMP executed search warrants on two residences.

They hit a Teslin residence at 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, and then a Whitehorse residence just before 11 a.m. the same day.

“There were all these police — at least seven — going through the building,” said one resident who lives in the area of the Radar apartments in Lobird.

“They questioned myself and my friend. They asked us who we’d seen going in and out of his apartment, and they asked us if we’d seen any children.”

“He was known as sort of a weird guy. He gave people the creeps.”

Police seized computers at both places and sent them to the RCMP technical crime unit in BC for forensic examination.

Firearms were also seized at the Whitehorse residence.

“In May, the Yukon RCMP Major Crimes section was advised of it as a result of a larger national ongoing investigation,” said Sgt. Roger Lockwood on Thursday.

Lockwood could not say how often similar charges have been laid in the Yukon, but “they’re not a very common charge,” he said.

“At this point, the investigation involved child pornography images that were obtained from the internet.

“There’s nothing to suggest, at this point, that any of the images involve local children. However, this is part of the ongoing investigation.”

Fifty-four-year-old John Cafferata of Teslin and 60-year-old Brian George Nowazek of Whitehorse have both been charged with one count of possession and one count of accessing child pornography.

Nowazek was also charged with 19 firearms offences including seven counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, five counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm and five counts of contravening firearm storage regulations.

The RCMP is continuing its investigation.

Lockwood could not say whether any further charges are forthcoming.