Abbotsford man sentenced for online ‘sextortion’

An Abbotsford man was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to online sextortion crimes.

The Port Moody Police Department (PMPD) says Jesse Toews was charged in December of 2022 in relation to crimes reported by a “young female” being extorted through social media.

In an update Friday, the PMPD says Toews pleaded guilty to publishing an intimate image without consent and fraudulently using a computer password to commit an offence.

He received a sentence of nine months imprisonment accompanied by a two-year probation order in a Port Coquitlam provincial court Thursday.

“We understand that these investigations do not always have the same outcome, but we do encourage those who have become the victim of a sextortion to call police immediately,” said Port Moody Const. Sam Zacharias.

If you or someone you know is being targeted for abuse or exploitation online, you can visit cybertip.ca to find resources or file a report.