Police in Victoria say a 42-year-old man who pleaded guilty to sexual assault and distributing child pornography has been sentenced to prison following a lengthy investigation spanning provincial and national borders.
Clayton Thomas Fletcher was sentenced to six and a half years in prison after entering guilty pleas to the charges on March 27, the Victoria Police Department said in a statement Wednesday.
Authorities opened an investigation into the case after receiving a tip last April from a witness in Calgary who accused the Victoria man of possessing child pornography, the department said.
Fletcher was arrested two days later on April 16, when investigators executed search warrants for two residences and a vehicle belonging to Fletcher, police said. Further search warrants were granted to allow police to search multiple electronic devices that had been seized as evidence.
Police estimate that nearly 2,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse were discovered, including a video showing Fletcher sexually assaulting an unresponsive 17-year-old girl, according to the statement.
Detectives also retrieved communications from the Telegram messaging app between Fletcher and two people in the United States, police said.
“One of the conversations was with a Telegram user who purported to be a teenage girl,” according to the statement.
“Mr. Fletcher had been in communication with this user for over two years, during which time they discussed sexual fantasies, exchanged CSAM (child sexual abuse material) with one another, and discussed sexually abusing animals.”
The other U.S. resident was identified as a man with whom Fletcher had exchanged child pornography, authorities said. Both U.S. residents were referred to American police for further investigation.
‘Challenging investigation’
Fletcher was charged in the case on Oct. 10, 2024, following an investigation that involved more than 40 Victoria police officers, according to the statement.
“This was an impactful, complex, and particularly challenging investigation, and our hearts go out to the victims of this man and their families,” Jamie McRae, deputy chief of the Victoria Police Department, said in the statement.
“It was very important for the survivors, the families, and the wider community that we put significant resources into building a solid case to present to Crown and the court, and I am very proud of the teamwork that brought this case to fruition.”
In addition to the prison term, Fletcher was ordered to provide a DNA sample to the national criminal database and was prohibited from possessing firearms for 10 years after his release, authorities said.
“It’s difficult for those involved to be exposed to this type of content, especially at this level, and while we’ve ensured that our officers have the support they need to process this, we hope knowing that he is going to jail will help everyone who has been involved in these horrific events,” McRae added.
