A 37-year-old man from Moncton, N.B., has been charged with sexual assault and other offences in connection with an ongoing investigation in Moncton and surrounding areas.
In early November 2022, the Fredericton Police Force began an investigation into reports of a man videotaping children in the pool areas of various hotels in the city. Fredericton police later arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with the investigation. He was subsequently charged, and later released on conditions.
On December 2, 2022 the 37-year-old man was arrested by members of the Codiac Regional RCMP for breaching the conditions of his release order.
On February 2, 2023, Stephen Blackwood appeared in Moncton Provincial Court and was charged with sexual assault and sexual interference in connection with an incident at a school in November 2022. He was remanded into custody and is scheduled to return to court on February 10. Police are continuing to investigate to determine if there were other victims.
Throughout the investigation, it was learned that the man had committed similar offences in the Moncton region and surrounding areas dating back to 2018.
Throughout the summer months in 2022, Stephen Blackwood was known to frequent the Shediac Wharf where he would approach children and ask them if they would perform a dance for his YouTube channel, where he is known as "Blamzooka". There are also reports of similar incidents at Magic Mountain dating back to 2018. Other locations that Blackwood attended included Parlee Beach, as well as hotel pools and other public pools like the YMCA and the Dieppe Aquatic Center. Police believe there may also have been other locations.
Blackwood was also a supply teacher between October 26 and November 4, 2022 at a number of schools in the Anglophone East District.
"This is still an active investigation, and we are working diligently to understand if there were other victims," says Cpl. Hans Ouellette with the New Brunswick RCMP. "We are asking parents to speak to their children if they attended these locations, or any of the schools that he taught at, and had interactions with him. We also want people to know that a sexual assault complaint can be made at any time, and there is no statute of limitations as to how far back the assault happened. If you are a victim of sexual misconduct, please contact us. You will be listened to, and you will be believed."
If you are a victim, or have any information related to these incidents or similar ones, please contact your local police. If you have information that may assist the investigation and would like to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.
The investigation is ongoing.