AARON SMITH CAUGHT IN EDMONTON BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS AFTER ONLINE GROOMING PLOT

In July 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Aaron Smith, a resident of Edmonton, who was caught in a sting operation orchestrated by paedophile hunters. Smith had believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl online, but in reality, he was engaging with members of a vigilant online child protection team.

According to court records, Smith initiated contact with an online profile that he thought belonged to a young girl aged 14. Over the course of their digital interaction, he sent numerous sexually explicit messages, clearly indicating his intent to engage her in sexual activity. His communications revealed a disturbing level of predatory behavior, as he expressed his love for her and sought to arrange a physical meeting.

The planned meeting was set for Silver Street train station at 9 pm on March 27. Smith arrived at the designated location, but he was quickly identified and apprehended by the paedophile hunting group known as ‘No Excuses’. The team explained that they are dedicated to protecting children from online predators and that the individual he believed to be a minor was actually an adult named ‘Roxie Solo’, affiliated with another paedophile hunting organization called ‘Justice for the Innocent’.

During questioning, the hunters uncovered that Smith had brought condoms with him, indicating his intent to carry out a sexual encounter with the supposed minor. The team promptly contacted the police, who arrived at the scene and took Smith into custody.

Initially, Smith pleaded not guilty to the charges, but he later changed his plea after the evidence against him was presented in court. The prosecution highlighted the seriousness of his actions, and during sentencing, the defense argued that Smith should not face imprisonment, citing the fact that he had been exposed online and caught in a sting operation.

However, the judge was unequivocal in his response, stating, “A bit of rough justice, don’t you think, for what he has done and freely admits on the sting video.”

On July 5, 2018, Aaron Smith was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to be on the sex offenders register for ten years and was subject to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and online safety groups to combat online grooming and protect vulnerable minors from predators.