A former Red Barn assistant manager is facing 30 criminal charges for allegedly recording and publishing intimate images of nine young women in a bathroom without their consent.
Matt Charles Schwabe, 32, is charged with unlawfully observing and recording women in a place where they could reasonably have been expected to be nude, and making child pornography from those images.
Schwabe is also charged with exporting child pornography, publishing intimate images of nine women without their consent, possession of child pornography, and the theft of three cellphones. The offences took place between June 2012 and June 2016 at one of the Red Barn locations.
Schwabe is also charged with exposing himself to a person under 16 in October 2014 and exposing his genitals in a public place on April 2, 2014.
On Thursday, Schwabe appeared in Victoria provincial court and was released on $5,000 bail and conditions. His next court appearance is Oct. 17.
Saanich police Sgt. Julie Fast said the investigation began in January 2016 after police received a complaint from a young woman who found explicit photographs of herself posted online. The file was passed to detectives for a comprehensive look at the allegations.
“It has been a long, complicated and detailed investigation that has [affected] and continues to impact many people,” Fast said.
“The strength and patience of the nine young women is commendable and we are very pleased to be at this point of charge approval.”
Schwabe’s conditions include reporting to a bail supervisor and going to the Saanich police station to be fingerprinted and photographed within 72 hours. He is not allowed to leave B.C. unless he has the written permission of the bail supervisor.
Judge Adrian Brooks ordered Schwabe to have no contact or communication with the nine alleged victims, whose identities are protected by a court order. Schwabe must stay away from their homes, schools or workplaces.
He is not allowed to own or use any camera, video or audio recording device, binoculars or telephone. He must not live with any woman unless she has been given a copy of his court conditions.
Schwabe is not allowed to be in any Red Barn Market, or own or use any device capable of accessing a computer network through a browser or social media. He can possess a cellphone or smart TV if it does not have a web browser or access to social media.
Schwabe can use a computer if he is at a public library or with a family member or person approved by his bail supervisor, or it is required by his employer.
He must not delete his browsing history or go to any social-media sites, video chat rooms or internet forums. He is not allowed to have a personal profile on Facebook, Twitter, Tinder or Instagram.
He must not communicate with anyone who is or appears to be under the age of 18 unless the person is a family member.
