NEWCASTLE, Ont. -- A pastor and youth counsellor is facing charges after police say a man tried to lure a teenage boy online with intentions of having a sexual encounter.
Durham regional police say the 15-year-old was actually a police investigator.
Police say they met the accused at a prearranged location and arrested him.
Kris Allan Gowdy, 42, of Newcastle, Ont., is charged with luring a child via computer and attempted aggravated sexual assault.
Investigators say Gowdy had an extensive social media presence and are urging anyone with information related to the case to contact police.
Police say Gowdy, whose online name was "collegetoy2033," is HIV-positive and that he worked as a church youth counsellor in many communities in Canada and the United States.
