Precursor Games writer, game designer and artist Ken McCulloch has been arrested by Niagara Regional Police on child pornography possession and distribution charges, Bullet News Niagara report. Police confiscated a "significant" amount of computer hardware after exercising a search warrant on a home in St. Catharines yesterday.
"Having just learned of these disturbing charges today and based on the serious nature of them, Ken McCulloch is no longer affiliated in any way with Precursor Games," CEO Paul Caporicci said in a statement on the developer's official forums. McCulloch's employee profile has been removed the site, and now directs to a 404 error.
McCulloch is currently in custody while he awaits a bail hearing, Bullet News Niagara reports.
Precursor Games, an independent developer formed from ex-Silicon Knights employees, is generally known for its controversial, unorthodox (and temporarily cancelled) attempts at crowdfunding Shadows of the Eternals, a spiritual successor to Denis Dyack's cult Gamecube classic Eternal Darkness. We've reached out to Precursor Games for comment.
St. Catharines Man Arrested for Child Pornography Offences
In April of 2013, Detectives from the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit commenced an investigation into the possession and distribution of child pornography. As a result of the investigation a search warrant was granted for a St. Catharines residence. On Thursday, June 27th, 2013, Detectives from the Internet Child Exploitation Unit/Child Abuse Unit, Technological Crimes Unit and Uniform Officers executed a search warrant at a St. Catharines residence. Subsequently, a significant number of computer systems and peripheral devices were seized as evidence. Kenneth McCulloch, 42 years old, of St. Catharines, Ontario, was arrested and is charged with one count each of Possession of Child Pornography, Making Child Pornography Available, and Accessing Child Pornography, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. This investigation is ongoing. McCulloch is being held in custody, pending a bail hearing scheduled for June 28th, 2013 at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines. The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the internet and conducts investigations into Internet Child Exploitation Offences in partnership with numerous Ontario Police Services. This investigative initiative has been made possible with financial assistance from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General. Members of the public can report suspicious Internet activities relating to child exploitation to the Niagara Regional Police Service, or online at www.cybertip.ca. Internet safety tips for parents, children and Internet users are also available on the Cybertip website. Information on crimes can be submitted anonymously using Crime Stoppers of Niagara. To leave an anonymous tip, please contact Crime Stoppers via: Telephone: 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), Online: www.niagaratips.com or Text: 274637 (CRIMES), keyword 'Niagara', then your tip. Crime Stoppers guarantees that you will remain anonymous through any of the methods offered to provide tips. You may also be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 if the information leads to an arrest.
Kenneth McCulloch charged with possession of child pornography after police seized "significant" number of computers during search.
Precursor Games developer Kenneth McCulloch, 42, has been arrested on child pornography charges, according to an official release from the Niagara Regional Police Service.
Company CEO Paul Caporicci confirmed on the Precursor Games forums that McCulloch is no longer associated--in any way--with the studio.
"Having just learned of these disturbing charges today and based on the serious nature of them, Ken McCulloch is no longer affiliated in any way with Precursor Games," he said.
Police executed a search warrant at McCulloch's St. Catharines, Ontario residence yesterday, seizing a "significant" number of computer systems and peripheral devices. The police began investigating McCulloch in April.
McCulloch is charged with one count each of possession of child pornography, making child pornography available, and accessing child pornography.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
McCulloch was a founding member of Precursor Games and, prior to his arrest, was listed on the company's website as "Lore-keeper. World-Builder. Dream-merchant." His employee profile has since been removed from the site.
Precursor Games, staffed by many former Silicon Knights developers, is currently working on Shadow of the Eternals, a spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem.
The company temporarily canceled the game's crowdfunding campaign earlier this month and has yet to disclose how or if the game will move forward.
