PEIZachary Stephen MacNeill of Charlottetown had originally faced seven charges involving a victim under 16 but pleaded guilty to three in provincial court on Thursday. The others were stayed.Zachary Stephen MacNeill met his victim when she was under 16, court toldLaura Meader · CBC News · Posted: Aug 22, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoAt provincial court in Charlottetown on Thursday, Crown prosecutor John Diamond said the man met his young victim through Snapchat in 2024 and went on to have sexual contact with her. (Laura Meader/CBC)Warning: This story contains details of sexual interference with an underaged person.A 22-year-old Charlottetown man has pleaded guilty to several sexual offences involving a teenaged girl. Zachary Stephen MacNeill pleaded guilty to sexual interference with someone under the age of 16 years old, making an arrangement to commit an offence with someone under the age of 16, and making available explicit material to a child. Child porn distribution charges were stayed, as were charges of invitation to sexual touching and sexual assault. Crown prosecutor John Diamond told the court that the man met his young victim through Snapchat in 2024 and the interaction eventually turned sexual. “He had full knowledge of the age of consent,” Diamond said, but despite that, engaged in unprotected sex with the girl. “Interviews clearly established that Mr. MacNeill sexually interfered with the victim on numerous occasions.” Charlottetown man faces 7 charges related to sexual exploitation of a girl under 16Twenty-two-year-old Zachary Stephen MacNeill is facing seven charges, including luring a child, sexual assault and making sexually explicit material available to a child. Charlottetown police say it all started with a tip from the public at the end of January. CBC’s Tony Davis reports.The agreed statement of facts in the case says he knew his behaviour was criminal and what the potential consequences were. MacNeill arranged to meet his underaged victim in a hotel room, sent her sexually explicit material, and went to the girl’s school at lunch hour. Girl’s family complainedIn January 2025, the victim’s mother complained to Charlottetown Police Services. She had believed the two were no longer in contact but found that wasn’t the case when she looked at her daughter’s cellphone and iPad. The police investigation started in February 2025. Court documents say that initially, MacNeill took no responsibility and was adamant that there had not been sexual contact. He acknowledged the truth only when police showed him a collection of screen shots and messages to which they had gained access. Sentencing is expected to take place in October. There are resources and supports available to anyone who has experienced sexual violence: Victim Services P.E.I. / Queens and Kings County: 902-368-4582; Prince County: 902-888-8218 Rise P.E.I. / Phone or text: 902-218-6143 P.E.I. Rape and Sexual Assault Centre / Call: 902-368-8055 or 1-888-368-8055 Here is a list of sexual assault centres, crisis lines and support services elsewhere in Canada. ABOUT THE AUTHORLaura Meader is a video journalist in P.E.I. She began her journalism career working in Manitoba but eventually made it back to Prince Edward Island where she grew up. She enjoys interviewing people, doing camera work and telling all kinds of stories. In 2021 she was part of a team awarded a National Radio Television Digital News Association award for Enterprise-Video.
P.E.I. man who met girl through Snapchat pleads guilty to sex offences
