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A man who has already done prison time for sex crimes against children now faces new charges following an investigation by the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit.
Andrew John Downing faces charges for accessing, possessing, and making available child pornography, as well as for breaching a prohibition order, stated a news release from the Saskatoon Police Service issued Friday.
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Police say charges come after an ICE investigation relating to child pornography, which began in July.
“On September 5, 2024, the Saskatchewan ICE Unit conducted a Search Warrant at a home in Regina,” the release states.
“Electronic devices were examined on scene and seized pursuant to the investigation.”
Charges against the 49-year-old Regina man ensued.
Downing has once before been charged with sex crimes against children. In 2019, he was handed a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to six charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference and possession of child pornography.
In that case, the abuse charges related to incidents that took place between 2011 and 2015, and involved three boys between the ages of 12 and 17.
The abuse offences involved Downing touching two of the boys in a sexual manner and performing sex acts on one of the boys, in addition to taking photographs of him changing or working out.
After hearing victim impact statements at his sentencing for those offences, Downing cried.
“I’m heartbroken that I hurt people,” he said then. “There’s no apology sufficient.”
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Relating to the new charges brought against him, Downing is said to have made his first appearance in Regina provincial court Friday morning.
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