A woman who was charged last year after sexually assaulting her own toddler will be sentenced in Red Deer Provincial Court next month.

Last year, a then four-year-old toddler was rescued from sexual abuse following an ALERT Internet Child Exploitation investigation done in conjunction with RCMP Red Deer and the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

The toddler was sexually abused by his biological mother, a 43-year-old Red Deer woman who is not being named in order to protect the identity of the victim. Photos of the abuse were sent over email.

The suspect was arrested on June 1st at a licensed daycare facility in Red Deer, where she was employed. ALERT does not believe any offences involved children from the daycare. The daycare is not being named, however parents of the daycare were notified.

Child and Family Services and the daycare operator are working with ALERT as they investigate.

ALERT’s investigation began in late May 2016 with a referral from the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC). ICAC identified a child being sexually abused based on evidence seized from a separate investigation. It was determined the child lived in the Red Deer area and ALERT was then able to expedite the investigation and identify the offender.

The Red Deer woman was initially charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation, making child pornography, distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography and accessing child pornography.

The woman pleaded guilty on Aug. 11th and will be sentenced on May 25th.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com