The following story references a case involving the sexual abuse of youth, reader discretion is advised
A 26-year-old man from Tofino has been sentened to 9 1/2 years in prison for multiple sex offenses involving minors from Port Alberni.
The sentence was handed down on Friday, March 28th, in Provincial Court in Port Alberni, following an RCMP investigation that began in early 2025 focused on the online activities of Loki Tchir of Tofino.
Tchir originally faced 17 charges related to the investigation but was ultimately sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material and for 4 counts of Sexual Interference of a Person Under 16 years old.
The court had heard that Tchir had made contact with minors online via the social media app Snapchat, had bribed the youth with alcohol, money and drugs, and travelled from Tofino to Port Alberni multiple times to commit his offences.
“There were many distressing aspects to this investigation including the scope of this man’s offences and access to minors that began with online communication.” – RCMP Corporal Aaron Aasen
In addition to his time in prison, Tchir also received a 15-year restriction on being employed in a position of trust over youth following his release. He has also been banned from using social media and the internet, from communicating with anyone under the age of 16, and from attending public spaces where anyone under the age of 16 years is expected to be present, for the same duration. He will be on the sex offender registry of life.
At his sentencing in Port Alberni on March 28th, Tchir had offered an apology to his victims, their families, and the community.
