A 51-year-old man who made a career in child welfare with the B.C. government is now facing multiple child pornography charges.
Edward Owen Berry was working for the Ministry of Children and Family Development when Mounties arrested him in mid-December following a months-long investigation.
Counts of possessing child pornography and accessing child pornography have since been approved against him.
Children and Family Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux said she’s troubled by the allegations, and that the government is fully cooperating with investigators.
“The nature of that charge is deeply concerning to all of us, including to members of the ministry’s dedicated staff who work every day to make a positive difference in the life of a child,” Cadieux said in a statement.
Berry is no longer a ministry employee, though it’s unclear whether he resigned or was let go.
According to a profile with the B.C. College of Social Workers, Berry was responsible for child and youth mental health, youth justice, and services for children and youth with special needs in northern parts of the province.
He was based in Prince George, but also has a home in Vancouver.
The Ministry of Children and Family Development said it conducts criminal record checks on all employees who work directly with kids, and that safety is its number one priority.
According to the Crown, the charges against Berry relate to an incident in Prince George last April. Mounties started investigating in June, and their probe is ongoing.
Berry was released from custody on several conditions, including that he avoid contact with anyone under the age of 16 and not possess any device capable of accessing the Internet.
He’s scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 28.
