THUNDER BAY — One of the men charged in Thunder Bay’s sweeping intimate-image investigation has pleaded guilty, marking another court development in a case that exposed the non-consensual sharing of private images across online platforms.
The case has carried particular weight in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario because the harm from this type of offence can ripple quickly through smaller communities, where victims may face lasting damage to privacy, safety and reputation.
11 original counts rolled into one for guilty plea
Jonathan Prieston entered a guilty plea in a Thunder Bay courtroom on Tuesday to one count of distributing an intimate image without consent. Prieston had originally been facing 11 counts, but the Crown and defence agreed to roll those allegations into a single count before the matter proceeds to sentencing. The case is scheduled to return to court at the end of May.
Police had originally identified Prieston in February 2025 — using the spelling Jonathon Prieston — as one of 12 men arrested in the Thunder Bay Police Service cybercrime project. A 13th accused, Jordan Maurice, was added a month later.
Investigation began in 2023 and identified at least 117 victims
Thunder Bay Police said the Cyber Crime Unit investigation began in 2023 after officers learned that intimate images of multiple women in Thunder Bay were being shared through online groups and chat platforms. When police announced the first arrests, they said 117 victims had been identified, including people elsewhere in Canada and in at least three other countries.
Investigators also said they had obtained 26 production orders, 18 search warrants and 15 general warrants, seizing nearly 600 exhibits.
What the charge means under Canadian law
The offence is set out in section 162.1 of the Criminal Code. It makes it an offence to knowingly publish, distribute, transmit, sell, make available or advertise an intimate image of a person while knowing the person did not consent, or while being reckless about consent. The charge is hybrid, meaning the Crown can proceed either by indictment or by summary conviction. If prosecuted by indictment, the maximum sentence is five years in prison.
Sentences in Canadian intimate-image cases vary widely depending on the number of images, the scale of distribution, the harm to victims, breach of trust, prior record and any related offences. Published sentencing summaries show outcomes ranging from conditional discharges to jail terms and conditional sentences.
In Thunder Bay, another accused in the same broader case, Tyler Blouin, recently received an 18-month conditional sentence followed by 12 months of probation after pleading guilty.
What comes next
Prieston’s sentencing has not yet taken place, so the court has not decided what penalty is appropriate in his case. While Prieston has now been found guilty on one count, the remaining accused who have not resolved their matters in court are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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