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Ex-soldier to plead guilty to numerous child porn charges: lawyer

The lawyer for a former Edmonton-based soldier says her client plans to plead guilty to some of the 119 child pornography and luring charges he faces.

EDMONTON — The lawyer for a former Edmonton-based soldier says her client plans to plead guilty to some of the 119 child pornography and luring charges he faces.

Court heard that Matthew Richervezeau, who is 23, intends to enter his plea on Sept. 18.

A statement of facts agreed to by the Crown and the defence is expected to be presented at that time.

After the hearing, Richervezeau’s lawyer, Colleen Connolly, said her client plans to plead guilty to some — but not all — of the charges, avoiding a trial.

Richervezeau was charged last month after a lengthy investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service that involved law enforcement agencies across North America.

He joined the army in 2011 and served as an armour crewman with the Edmonton-based Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) regiment.

He left the service voluntarily in May.

Details of the allegations against Richervezeau have not been released, but Col. Rob Delaney, acting Provost Marshall of the Canadian Forces, said in August that it was an “exceptionally disturbing case of alleged child sexual exploitation using computers and social media.”