Sask. youth worker arrested in Edmonton and charged with child luring, pornography | CBC News
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WARNING: This story contains details of child pornography-related allegations.
A youth worker from Pasqua First Nation in southern Saskatchewan has been arrested in Edmonton and charged with child luring, making child pornography, possession of child pornography and distributing child pornography.
Abraham Woo, 28, was arrested on Feb. 2 by ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit, with the help of Edmonton police.
ICE alleges that Woo was involved in luring at least one child, who is also from Pasqua First Nation, where Woo worked at one point. Pasqua First Nation is about 50 kilometres northeast of Regina.
The offences are alleged to have taken place over Snapchat and Facebook. Police say they are investigating the possibility of additional victims, likely in either Alberta or Saskatchewan.
Staff Sgt. Jon Morrison, unit commander of ALERT’s ICE unit for northern Alberta, told CBC the alleged child luring was recent.
“But we believe that there was a prior existing awareness of each other through his employment as a youth worker and that’s why the continued or the initiated contact occurred recently,” Morrison said.
Pasqua First Nation Chief Matthew Peigan said he didn’t hear about the charges against Woo until the media called him Thursday morning.
“It was a shock, because when you meet the person [he’s] very energetic. Very, you know, committed to working with our youth and programming and services,” Peigan said.
“We always looked at Mr. Woo in terms of, you know, helping us.”
A youth worker from Pasqua First Nation in southern Saskatchewan has been arrested in Edmonton and charged with child luring, making child pornography, possession of child pornography and distributing child pornography.
According to the chief, Woo previously worked in both the First Nation’s school and youth centre. Peigan said Woo was fired from his position for reasons unrelated to children. According to ICE, Woo was last employed there in 2021.
Peigan said that when he found out that the alleged victim was known to Woo through his work at Pasqua, Peigan alerted therapists on the First Nation to comb through their files for anything concerning that could be deemed connected to Woo’s time there. He said any findings will be reported to the proper authorities.
As investigators look into the possibility of more victims, Peigan said he hopes people are able to come forward.
“Acts like this are not condoned whatsoever, and children are our precious little gems that we’re supposed to protect. If anyone comes forward, we would have support mechanisms for them.”
ICE’s asks for public assistance
According to police, Woo’s alleged offences were first reported to Saskatchewan ICE in January 2024, and associated with an investigation by Fort Qu’Appelle Saskatchewan RCMP.
ICE’s investigation, which included a forensic examination of computers and electronic devices seized from Woo’s home, has led the unit to believe there may be additional victims.
Among the child sexual abuse materials, ICE identified photos that appear to have been taken in a locker room facility. These images, Morrison said, are new to investigators who deal with sexual abuse cases. He said that when they see new material, they worry it’s been created by the person who had it. That means the person may have had contact with the child in the images.
Now ICE is requesting the public’s help.
“I don’t know what every locker room looks like in Saskatchewan, Alberta or elsewhere. The [assistance requested] is to try and seek the public’s attention to where that might be, to contact us so we can investigate where the occurrence location may be — also with a view of potentially locating a child victim,” said Morrison.
Police said Woo has been known to use the aliases Abraham Calling Bear Woo, Abraham Collingwood, and his Snapchat handle WolfBoy22.
Morrison said his team is seeing an increase in the number of online luring leading to in-person abuse.
“The child predation on the internet right now is prolific,” he said.
As difficult as it is, Morrison strongly encourages parents and guardians to speak with their children about personal safety, in order to try and get ahead of criminals.
ALERT’s ICE unit for northern Alberta shared the following locations and dates with CBC News Thursday afternoon. This is where Woo is known to have worked since 2014/2015:
- Chief Paskwa Education Centre (Pasqua First Nation, Sask.)
- Educational Assistant (In school): Approximately the year of 2014 or 2015.
- Online Educational Assistant: January 2021 to March 2021.
- Edmonton Bent Arrow Society (Edmonton, Alta.)
- Lodge Keeper: March 2019 to June 2019.
- Transported youths to family or CFS visits.
- Lodge Keeper: March 2019 to June 2019.
- Alta Care Resources – Shadow Dragon Youth Group Home (Edmonton, Alta.)
- Group home staff member: November 2019 to May 2020.
- Leduc Boys and Girls Club (Leduc, Alta.)
- Youth Programs Coordinator: June 2019 to November 2019.
- Pe Metawe Games (Edmonton, Alta.)
- In charge of youth camps, in charge of online Discord App, front store staff.
- Employed approximately January 2021 to January 2022.
- May have last volunteered October 2023.
Anyone with information about the offences Woo has been charged with or the locker room photos is asked to contact their local police, or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS (8477).
Woo has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 28.
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