Listen to this article
Estimated 2 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
WARNING: This story contains information about child sexual exploitation material.
A 50-year-old Winnipeg man is facing several child sexual exploitation charges after an international investigation into the abuse of children in the Philippines.
Winnipeg police allege that between late 2017 and mid-2023, the man was in communication with two people in the Philippines about creating child sexual abuse and exploitation material in exchange for money.
The people in the Philippines had several young children in their care, ranging from pre-school to school age, Winnipeg police said in a release Friday.
The man also sent sexual abuse material to the people in the Philippines, police allege.
Between March and July 2023, police believe he demanded more child sexual abuse material from the people in the Philippines, threatening to send the material he already had to their family and friends through social media if they didn’t comply.
Investigators also say the man distributed exploitation material to social media platforms in the U.S.
In January 2025, U.S. investigators with Homeland Security gave the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre a tip about an investigation into a Canadian suspect, the release said.
The Winnipeg Police Service’s child exploitation unit took over the investigation after the suspect, who was using an online alias, was found to be living in the city.
Police arrested Christopher Steven Hoskins, 50, at a home in south Winnipeg on Oct. 1. Several electronic devices were seized.
Hoskins has been charged with agreement to commit a sexual offence against a person under 18 years of age and against a person under 16 years of age, along with counselling a person to commit sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching.
He also faces six charges related to making, accessing, importing, distributing and possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material, along with one count of extortion.
Hoskins was released on an order prohibiting contact with anyone under 18, police said.