A 51-year-old Sherwood Park man has been charged with making child sexual abuse materials using artificial intelligence, after investigators found an extensive collection of AI-manufactured material during a forensic examination of devices seized from his home. Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) says the single charge covers numerous instances and that investigators believe there are more victims.

Christopher Kalbfleisch was charged on Sept. 25, according to ALERT. The agency’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit first arrested him on June 25, after receiving reports that he was sharing child sexual abuse materials online. He was then charged with possessing, accessing and transmitting the material.

After the June arrest, investigators examined computers and other electronic devices seized from Kalbfleisch’s home. ALERT said the forensic analysis uncovered an extensive collection of child sexual abuse materials made using artificial intelligence. Kalbfleisch is accused of using AI applications to sexualize photos and videos of numerous victims known to him.

According to an ALERT media release, he allegedly “took advantage of open social media accounts and used posted photos as his source of material to alter.” CTV News Edmonton also reported that investigators believe there are more victims. The investigation is ongoing, with ICE working to identify them.

Kalbfleisch was released from custody subject to court-imposed conditions. He must not communicate with anyone under 16 and must not attend public schools, playgrounds or public libraries. Global News Edmonton also reported that he is barred from public pools. He is scheduled to appear in court in Sherwood Park on Oct. 16.

ALERT says the use of AI tools to sexualize images has led to several charges in Alberta over the past year and a half. Last summer, the agency accused a junior girls’ football coach in Lethbridge of using AI to create child pornography.

In December 2025, ALERT accused a teenager in the Calgary region of using AI to sexualize photos of teen girls who attended several high schools in the area. A 17-year-old was charged with making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials, as well as criminal harassment. Investigators said then that making such content was “a most extreme form of bullying and a criminal offence,” and stressed that it was not a joke or prank.

This past June, ALERT accused two 14-year-old boys in Edmonton of using AI to make child sexual exploitation images of classmates at a junior high school. A teacher brought the allegations to police in late March 2026, after students raised complaints. Investigators said photos of several girls were taken without their consent, then combined with other images taken from social media to create exploitative material with AI tools. The boys allegedly shared the images with each other on their phones.

“There is a misconception that because it’s AI, it’s not real, that the impact is not significant,” Const. Stephanie Bosch of ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation unit said at the time. Investigators say AI-generated exploitative images are becoming more common.

Anyone with information about Kalbfleisch’s case is asked to contact local police or Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Based on reporting by Global News Edmonton and CTV News Edmonton.