Justin Bieber Impostor Charged With Rape, 931 Child Sex Offenses, Had Children Send Him Nude Photos
A 42-year-old man from Australia has been charged with 931 child sex offenses, including rape, after he posed as popstar Justin Bieber online and deceived young fans into sending him explicit images.
The Telegraph reported that Queensland police conducted a "thorough examination" of Gordon Douglas Chalmers' computer, after which the law lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane was charged with using a carriage service to procure and groom children for sex and to access child pornography.
German and U.S. authorities apparently charged him back in November with using Facebook and Skype to impersonate Bieber, who has one of the largest teen followings in the popstar industry.
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Inspector Jon Rouse, from the anti-child exploitation task force Argos, warned that the investigation has exposed "both the vulnerability of children that are utilizing social media and communication applications and the global reach and skill that child sex offenders have to groom and seduce victims."
"The fact that so many children could believe that they were communicating with this particular celebrity highlights the need for a serious rethink about the way that we, as a society, educate our children about online safety," Rouse said, according to The Guardian.
Officials have not yet revealed how many children in total were targeted or in what countries they live in. Chalmers is expected to appear in the Brisbane magistrates court on April 6, though it is not yet clear how long he will spend in prison if convicted.
"The breadth of offenses committed in this instance is frankly horrendous," Rouse added.
BBC News pointed out that the sexual exploitation claims date all the way back to 2007, and include three charges of rape in total, and five of indecently treating a child under 12.
Police have told parents to speak with their children about online safety.
Bieber is currently in Australia performing his "Purpose World Tour." The 23-year-old Canadian pop singer has not yet responded to the news.
Bieber is one of the industry's most well known Christians, and according to some tabloids his latest tour has allowed him to share his faith with fans.
"Backstage on his Purpose tour, Justin has been sitting down with his opening acts and encouraging them to put Christ before everything. His aim is to convert the people he loves and warn other stars against the evils of the industry," a source reportedly told the Sun in December.
"Justin's life changed for the better since he found God and he has been making better decisions now that he has found peace within his faith. After seeing so many other celebs go off the rails, he wants to help his friends find the joy and happiness he has."
