By Sheldon Spackman

Repeated Victimizations

Local man sentenced to 18 years for one of Alberta’s largest child pornography busts

Jan 19, 2021 | 2:04 PM

A central Alberta man has been handed an 18-year prison sentence following one of the largest child pornography busts in Alberta’s history.

The man, who can’t be named due to a publication ban to protect the identity of his victims, was also given a 10-year Long-Term Supervision Order, a lifetime prohibited weapons and firearms ban, the requirement to register as a sex offender, and order to submit his DNA.

He was also given time-and-a-half credit, however, for two years already spent behind bars, so now has 15 years left to serve.

During sentencing in Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday, Judge Jim Hunter described the now 36-year-old man’s actions as “deplorable.”

Hunter noted the abuse of thousands of children over a span of nine to 10 years, including 11 local victims who were sexually assaulted by the man directly. It was previously learned in court the man’s victims ranged in age from two to 10-years-old.

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The man pleaded guilty in October 2019 to 26 charges, while over 50 counts were dropped. He was initially charged in January 2019 following a tip from the Queensland Police Service in Australia.

During the course of the investigation, members of ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit seized over 180,000 images of child pornography from the man’s digital devices – the second most in Alberta history. While over 27,000 videos of child pornography were also seized – the most in Alberta history.

“The offenses are extremely grave. Each time the files are viewed, the child is re-victimized. The potential for re-victimizations are immense,” said Judge Hunter.

“His moral culpability is very high. His collection was vast and extremely well organized. Close to the highest numbers ever dealt with in Alberta.”

Hunter said the accused knew the legal and moral wrongfulness of his actions.

“He not only made child pornography, he traded and distributed it. I acknowledge (the accused) has a number of mental illnesses including pedophilia disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, but not enough to mitigate the sentence.”

Among the numerous restrictions and conditions that will be imposed upon the accused once released from prison are a ban from being in a public park, swim area, daycare, school, playground, community centre or mall, where the accused is said to have taken over 12,000 voyeurism videos at local malls and the beach at Sylvan Lake.

While under long-term supervision, the man will also be prohibited from being within a one kilometre radius of where his victims may be, have no contact with his victims or their families, no employment or volunteer work with people 16 years-of-age or younger, and no communication with anyone 16 or under.

After seeking a sentence of 20 years, Crown prosecutor Carolyn Ayre said she is satisfied with the man’s 18-year sentence, describing it as a “well thought-out decision” on the part of Judge Hunter.