A 44-year-old man from Los Angeles has been handed a 40-year prison sentence following a child luring investigation that was prompted when a Saanich family came forward to police.
In April 2020, the parents of a 12-year-old Saanich girl reported to the Saanich Police Department that they had discovered sexually explicit messages on the girl's phone and computer that were sent to and from an unknown individual. Officers from the Family Protection Unit, now Special Investigations Section, immediately began a child luring investigation.
Over the course of the investigation, according to a news release, evidence led detectives to believe that the suspect was located in the U.S. Saanich PD engaged with Homeland Security Investigations agents, and over time, it was determined that the best course of action was to transfer the case to U.S. authorities.
In July 2022, Mark David Wallin of Los Angeles, Calif. was arrested. Investigators say that from 2019 to 2021, Wallin had been preying on pre-teen girls and boys internationally and domestically, and was grooming them to provide him with explicit photos and videos.
Dozens of Wallin's victims were identified, with their ages ranging from 9 to 16 years old.
He pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of production of child pornography and one count of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was sentenced to 40 years in a U.S. federal prison on May 16.
“I’m incredibly proud of the officers involved in this case. To play such a critical role in the apprehension and conviction of a prolific child predator in another country is a testament to their commitment, tenacity, and high-quality investigative work,” said Saanich PD Chief Const. Dean Duthie in a news release.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, after his victims sent him sexually explicit content, Wallin would sometimes demand additional sexually explicit images and videos from them. He would also threaten to publish or otherwise expose the prior pictures and videos sent by the victim or created by Wallin if the victim did not comply with his demands.
Wallin also admitted in his plea agreement to knowingly causing at least four additional victims – ranging in age from 12 to 16 years old – to produce multiple files of child pornography. He admitted to possessing approximately 200 files containing child sexual abuse material in August 2021.
At the May sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong said Wallin committed “cruel and relentless” crimes against children, and that his conduct was “highly sexualized sadomasochistic conduct that no child should know of, let alone be exposed to,” according to the attorney's office.
“It’s important to guide your children as they begin to venture out onto the internet. Be aware of what social media platforms they are on and who they are interacting with. Create an open dialog with them where they feel supported and can come to you if they see or experience anything that feels unsafe or uncomfortable. Talk about it regularly, stay informed about apps and create good social media awareness. Staying safe online is a family effort,” noted Det. Const. John Gadsby, the lead Saanich investigator on the file.
