Hamilton man faces 136 charges in international child sex abuse probe
· Toronto Sun
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A Hamilton man arrested earlier this year now faces well over 100 charges in a child sexual abuse and exploitation investigation that led to the rescue of four kids in the Philippines.
Toronto Police, who spearheaded the joint-forces international probe, say the investigation was initially launched in April 2025.
“That month, during an RCMP NCECC-led (National Child Exploitation Crime Centre) operation in Ottawa, in partnership with HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), investigators identified an individual in Canada who was allegedly paying for and directing the livestream sexual abuse of children in the Philippines,” Insp. Keri Fernandes, who heads up the Sex Crimes Unit, said at a news conference on Wednesday, explaining a Canadian investigation was subsequently launched “into the suspected buyer.”
“At the same time, the RCMP NCECC TCSO (Transnational Child Sex Offender) Unit and the Liaison Officer in Manila, Philippines, supported a parallel investigation into the alleged facilitator in the Philippines,” she said. “In partnership with the Netherlands Police, investigators were able to determine the identity of the Canadian sending money to the alleged facilitator in the Philippines.”
Fernandes said the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Division carried out an operation involving the alleged facilitator that resulted in “the rescue of four children.”
And as a result, more information on the alleged Canadian buyer became available.
Toronto Police Internet Child Exploitation Unit officers subsequently executed a search warrant near Kenilworth Ave. N. and Cannon St. E., in Hamilton, on March 25.
During that search, it’s alleged that a quantity of child sexual abuse and exploitation material was located.
Stephen Tolys, 42, of Hamilton, was arrested at that time and charged with making an arrangement/agreement with a person to commit the offence of making child sexual abuse and exploitation material with respect to another person who is, or the accused believes is, under the age of 18; making child sexual abuse and exploitation material; two counts of accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material; and two counts of possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
“As investigators continued to review evidence and follow new leads, the scope of the investigation grew,” Fernandes said. “As a result, Mr. Tolys now faces an additional 130 charges related to the purchase and direction of livestream sexual abuse of children, bringing the total to 136 charges.”
“These additional charges speak to the scale of the alleged offences and our commitment to following every lead and holding offenders accountable,” she said.
Tolys is scheduled to appear in court in Toronto on July 31.
“With child exploitation, child sexual exploitation doesn’t stop at the borders, and neither can our investigations,” Fernandes said. “Cases like this depend on strong partnerships and information-sharing between agencies around the world.”
Tolys allegedly used an assortment of usernames on various social media platforms, including Tupac101, Steve101, Steve-o, Jumpinjacks666, Mighty and Mightymann66.
Investigators are concerned about the possibility of other alleged victims and would like to speak to anyone who communicated with Tolys via any of his alleged usernames.
“This case involves the livestreaming of child sexual abuse, a crime in which facilitators – sometimes called traffickers – profit by charging customers around the world to watch, request or direct the abuse of children in real time,” RCMP Cpl. Phillipe Gravel, an investigator with the NCECC, explained during the news conference at Toronto Police Headquarters.
“What’s more, these facilitators are often family members or other trusted individuals close to the victims,” he said. “They exploit vulnerable children for financial gain.”
“What we’re talking about is not a victimless crime – it is the repeated sexual abuse of children for profit,” Gravel said. “In many cases, it has been described as child rape.”
“Each one of these investigations is about protecting children and holding offenders accountable,” he added.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call police at 416-808-8500.