Toronto police have laid more than 130 additional charges against a 42-year-old Hamilton man in a global investigation into the arranged, livestreamed sexual abuse of children in the Philippines.
Allegations and arrest
Police allege the accused, identified by investigators as Stephen Tolys, paid for and directed sexual assaults that were streamed live by a facilitator in the Philippines. Authorities say customers around the world paid to watch the abuse "in real time."
Tolys was arrested on March 25 after a Toronto police search warrant was executed in the area of Kenilworth Avenue North and Cannon Street East in Hamilton. He was initially charged with allegations that include accessing and possessing child sexual abuse materials and arranging for others to sexually assault minors. The new charges bring the total additional counts to more than 130. He is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on July 31.
International investigation and victims
The case stems from a broader investigation that involved law enforcement agencies in multiple countries, including the Netherlands, and from work by authorities in the Philippines. That probe led to the arrest of the alleged facilitator there and the rescue of four children in October 2025.
Detective Michael Sabadin of Toronto police has said investigators believe there are more than 50 victims who have not yet been identified. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Toronto police at 416-909-8500.
"Customers around the world paid to watch abuse of children in the island country in ‘real time.'"
Online identities and investigative leads
Police have identified several usernames they allege were used by the accused across social media platforms. Those usernames reported by investigators include:
- Tupac101
- Steve101
- Steve-o
- Jumpinjacks666
- Mighty
- Mightymann66
Investigators say the identification of online aliases is part of ongoing efforts to find additional victims and other participants. The investigation reportedly had been under way for seven months before the arrest in Hamilton.
Local impact and next steps
The new charges and the international dimension of the case underline the cross-border nature of some child-exploitation crimes and the role of co‑ordinated policing. The accused’s court appearance at the end of July will be the next public step in the prosecution in Ontario.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Accused | 42-year-old man from Hamilton (named by investigators) |
| Arrest date | March 25 |
| Additional charges | More than 130 |
| Court date | Ontario Court of Justice, Toronto — July 31 |
| Tip line | Toronto police: 416-909-8500 |
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation, particularly those who may assist in identifying victims or other suspects, is asked to contact Toronto police. The Hamiliton community will be watching the court process and any further disclosures from investigators as the case advances.
