Sentencing was handed down for a Drumheller man facing charges with international connections to the United States in Drumheller court on Friday, September 23.
Shawn Albrecht, 45, appeared in court alongside legal counsel Michael James to receive sentencing.
The accused was arrested in January 2022 following a year-long joint investigation involving multiple policing agencies, including Drumheller RCMP, Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit, and a policing agency in the United States.
Federal Crown prosecution noted they had reviewed case law in relation to the charges faced by Mr. Albrecht, and the case law was “very clear.”
Crown and defense presented a joint submission for a two year period of incarceration, followed by a probationary period of three years.
Mr. James noted mitigating factors in the case were Albrecht’s early and continued indication of remorse, and cooperation with the investigation.
He noted as the case does have ties to the United States, the case could have gone on for much longer, but both Crown and defense wished to move forward.
When given the opportunity to speak, Mr. Albrecht acknowledged he had made a mistake and expressed his remorse.
Albrecht pleaded guilty to a charge of child luring. All other charges were withdrawn.
Mr. Albrecht was sentenced to two years custody with three years probation following his release. He was also mandated to provide a DNA sample and will be required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry following his release.

“I’ll be delivering water, might be in a newer van.”
This is Mike Burfield’s response when asked about the windfall he will be receiving, following striking it big with a MaxMillion win on his Lottomax Ticket. He purchased his ticket at Riverside Value Drug Mart.
He is one of 11 winners across the country and the only one in Alberta to instantly win $1 million on the Tuesday, September 27 draw. He tells the Mail, he is an occasional lottery player, especially when the pot is big.
“Someone said it was $70 Million, and we were talking at the drug store. I said ‘I only need a million, that would get me going fine.’ And clerk (Gerry Radke) said ‘Remember me when you win,’” he laughs. “I checked the numbers the next day and said, ‘There’s a lot of zeros here.”
He went back to Riverside Value Drug Mart and asked Radke to check his ticket, and he learned it was indeed a winner.
“She sells million-dollar tickets!
Before it's official, he will be travelling to St. Albert to have the ticket officially verified before the prize will be paid out.
“It's pretty exciting. I’m not sure it is setting in yet what’s going on,” said Burfield.
Since the news is so new, he is still figuring out what he will do with the windfall.
“Of course, pay bills and have a little fun. And then we’ll put money away for the kids’ education and retirement,” he said. “Education will be looked after so they can go on to be doctors or dentists or whatever, they want to do, so that won’t hold them back.”
He has no plan to retire from his day job as owner and operator of Water Pure and Simple in Drumheller.
“That's not going to change. I have had a few customers, asking what’s going to change, and I told them, ‘I’ll be delivering water, might be in a newer van.”
As the word spread throughout the community, a refrain of 'it couldn’t have happened to a better person,” was also heard.
“I keep hearing a good family won it, so that makes me feel pretty good too,” said Burfield.