Jimmy Pieschke was wanted on a warrant after he missed a court date in Quebec on child pornography charges. (submitted photo/RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

big arrest

‘Members of the public recognized this man:’ Quebec sex offender arrested in Parksville

Apr 20, 2023 | 10:02 AM

PARKSVILLE — Oceanside RCMP used tips from the public to find and arrest a man who pleaded guilty to child porn charges in Quebec in 2022.

Mounties arrested Jimmy Pieschke, 39, on Wednesday, April 19 in south Parksville.

He was arrested in May 2020 at his Montreal home and charged with possession, distribution and production of child pornography to which he pleaded guilty.

However, Pieschke missed a late January court appearance in Montreal, with a warrant for his arrest eventually extended to B.C.

Oceanside RCMP Sgt. Shane Worth told NanaimoNewsNOW locals recognized Pieschke from an RCMP news release which indicated he was last seen on Salt Spring Island in early February.

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“Members of the public recognized this man that was wanted on the warrant from the earlier media release that was issued by the Fugitive Return Program and they phoned police to let us know that they believed this person was wanted on a warrant from Quebec.”

On scene, officers confirmed the identity of the accused and took him into custody.

Pieschke remains under police watch and arrangements are being made for his return to Quebec, Worth noted.

“The information we received was very credible. The persons who let us know about this knew the person, they were aware of their identity and I believe they’d seen a photo of this person and were very confident that this was the person police were looking for.”

Worth was not sure why Pieschke was in Parksville, or for how long.

Charges to which Pieschke pleaded guilty to stem from a September 2019 search of a home in Quebec, where officers reported finding child pornography and several chat conversations under an alias linked to him.

He was arrested in May 2020 at his Montreal home and charged with possession, distribution and production of child pornography to which he pleaded guilty.

RCMP had previously said he was last spotted on Salt Spring Island on Feb. 10 and failed to appear in court on Jan. 30, 2023. RCMP warned people not to approach or attempt to apprehend him, instead dial 911.

Pieschke also allegedly goes by “James” or “Jimmy Leduc” as aliases.

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