A Kingston man has been charged with 76 criminal offenses following a joint investigation between the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Kingston Police.
The arrest came out of a joint investigation dubbed “Project Shamrock,” which began in January 2022, when Kingston Police learned that an individual had been luring victims through a social media platform.
“A thorough investigation was conducted by the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS) from the Kingston Police, Ottawa Police Service, Peterborough Police Service and the OPP Digital Forensics,” Police said on Monday.
Ten victims were initially identified and they were provided with assistance through a victim services agency and are now in a place of safety. Police identified additional victims, resulting in further charges being laid. The investigation was supported by Kingston Victim Services and the OPP IJFS Victim Specialist, of the OPP Victim-Centred Approach Team.
Kingston Police Chief Antje McNeely called Project Shamrock a success.
“The success of Project Shamrock is an important message that as a policing community, we continue to be committed to investigating and holding those that commit these predatory crimes accountable,” McNeely said.
As part of this ongoing investigation, Michael Mark Haaima, the 38-year-old male resident of Kingston has been charged with the following offences:
- Sexual assault, sec. 271(1) – eighteen counts;
- Unlawfully access child pornography, sec. 163.1 (4.1) – five counts;
- Obtaining sexual services for consideration, sec. 286.1 (1) – four counts;
- Forcible confinement, sec. 279 (2) – four counts;
- Assault, sec. 266 – three counts;
- Harassment by watching and besetting, sec. 264 (2)(c);
- Overcome resistance to offence/attempt to choke, sec. 246 (a); – three counts
- Criminal harassment by communication, sec. 264 (2)(b);
- Sexual assault with choking, sec. 272 (1) (c.1); – four counts
- Uttering threats/death or bodily harm, sec. 264.1 (1) (a) – four counts;
- Compulsions to commit bestiality, sec. 160 (2);
- Mischief under $5000, sec. 430 (4);
- Invitation to sexual touching, sec. 152 – two counts;
- Sexual interference, sec. 151; – two counts;
- Procuring/person under 18 years, sec. 286.3 (2);
- Trafficking of a person under 18 years, sec. 279.11 (1);
- Obtaining sexual services for consideration under 18, sec. 286.1 (2); – four counts
- Overcome resistance to commit sexual assault, sec. 246 (a);
- Sexual assault cause bodily harm sec. 272 (1)(c);
- Luring for invitation to sexual touching sec. 151;
- Luring for making child pornography sec. 172.1 (1)(b);
- Aggravated sexual assault, sec. 273 (2)(b) – two counts;
- Make child pornography, sec. 163.1 (2) – two counts;
- Make available child pornography, sec. 163.1(3); – two counts
- Possess child pornography, sec. 163.1 (4) – three counts;
- Extortion, sec. 346 (1.1)(b) – two counts;
- Assault with a weapon, sec. 267 (a); and,
- Voyeurism, sec. 162 (1).
While Haaima is currently in custody, police believe that there are still victims in the community. They are urging anyone with any additional information to contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122, Kingston Police or their local police. If you or someone you know may be a victim of these crimes, call 9-1-1 immediately.
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-900-1010. Human trafficking resources are available at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca.
