Police say a former Fredericton-area petting zoo owner now faces nearly three dozen charges in a sexual exploitation investigation.
Michael Sorenson, 38, of Noonan faces 32 charges, including 12 counts of voyeurism, 10 counts of making child porn, and three counts of sexual exploitation.
Sorenson also faces three counts of possession of child porn, two counts of invitation to sexual touching, and one count each of sexual assault and sexual interference.
Six previously-laid charges for sexual exploitation, sexual touching, voyeurism, making child pornography and possession of child pornography were vacated, said police.
Investigators said the charges stem from alleged incidents between 2008 and 2020 involving several identified and unknown victims.
“We know this individual used to own a petting zoo in Noonan until 2020, and would travel across the province to different events, hiring locals who stayed at hotels with him,” Cpl. Hans Ouellette, media relations officer with the New Brunswick RCMP, said in a news release.
Ouellette said police have identified several New Brunswick victims and are actively looking to identify other potential victims.
According to police, Sorenson was released by the court on “strict conditions” and is scheduled to return on Nov. 12 to enter a plea.
Anyone with information or who may have been a victim is asked to contact the New Brunswick RCMP’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 506-452-3405.
Man charged with 32 child pornography offences; RCMP continues to seek possible victims, https://t.co/HHTGzYUNrI #Noonan
— RCMP New Brunswick (@RCMPNB) September 27, 2021
