A 21-year-old man from Cochrane has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a calculated and devastating betrayal of trust. Bransyn Lyon preyed on vulnerable preteens online, coercing them into producing illicit material and then exploiting their fear to demand more.
The court heard Lyon didn’t simply seek images; he actively manipulated his victims, creating false online personas – both male and female using Bitmoji – to gain their confidence. This insidious tactic allowed him to establish a predatory relationship built on deception and control.
Lyon’s crimes extended beyond initial exploitation. He weaponized the very images he obtained, threatening to expose his victims to their families and schools if they attempted to stop. One young girl, between nine and eleven years old at the time, lived under the shadow of this constant threat.
The emotional toll on the victims and their families is immeasurable. One mother, speaking on behalf of her son, described a “whirlwind of emotion” following the abuse, compounded by the recent loss of his grandmother. Therapy offers a path to recovery, but the scars remain.
Another mother, in a statement read to the court, voiced a chilling fear: that Lyon would re-offend and target her daughter again. Her words, “I feel like I’m living a nightmare,” encapsulate the lasting trauma inflicted by his actions.
Lyon pleaded guilty to four charges, including luring minors online, extortion, possession of child pornography, and violating a court order prohibiting communication with minors. Additional charges related to child pornography possession surfaced from Saskatchewan, broadening the scope of his offenses.
During the sentencing hearing, Lyon offered a tearful apology, acknowledging the profound harm he caused to both identified victims and those he exploited anonymously. He admitted his actions were deeply inappropriate and failed to consider the devastating consequences.
Justice Greg Stirling accepted a joint submission from the Crown and defense, resulting in a seven-year sentence. With credit for time already served, Lyon has approximately four and a half years remaining on his sentence. However, no amount of time can fully repair the damage he inflicted.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking online and the urgent need to protect vulnerable children from predatory individuals who exploit their innocence for personal gratification. The victims’ stories underscore the long-lasting psychological wounds inflicted by such crimes.
