A 55-year-old P.E.I. man found to be in possession of child pornography, including a DVD and written material, was sentenced to two years less one day in provincial court in Charlottetown Friday.
Harleigh MacDougall, of Charlottetown, appeared before judge John Douglas for sentencing after entering guilty pleas Dec. 7.
On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, MacDougall went to the Confederation Centre Public Library in Charlottetown to print off naked images of both adults and young boys on the public computers.
This was flagged by staff and MacDougall was subsequently arrested by police.
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In his interview with police, MacDougall told them he used the images for sexual purposes and that he had other child pornography items at his apartment in Charlottetown.
Police seized 14 binders and 12 boxes containing 1,605 sexually explicit stories involving children under the age of 18.
Also seized was a DVD, which had the letters KWDK written on it, which MacDougall told police stood for “Kids Who Do Kids”.
There were two other videos seized containing 10-45 second video clips of child pornography.
MacDougall does have a prior related criminal record. He was convicted in 2006 for possessing child pornography, distributing child pornography and sexual interference.
A presentence report was prepared, suggesting that there was some dysfunction in his upbringing and that he never had a male role model in his life.
There were also discussions about his struggles with his own sexual identify and about his cognitive function.
The court heard that it appears his attendance at the public library to print these stories commenced almost immediately after the expiration of his last parole term.
“He stated that he knew he would eventually get caught, but that he kept pushing his luck,” said Crown Attorney, Lisa Goulden.
Defense Attorney, Thane MacEachern, said MacDougall was fully cooperative with police during the investigation, answering questions openly and honestly.
MacEachern said MacDougall indicated to him that he is embarrassed by his actions and that he wishes he was never allowed to have access to a computer.
“He found himself slipping back to where he didn’t want to be slipping.”
The only question MacDougall had for the court is when he could start the sexual deviance program.
“It helped me the first time,” he told the court.
In addition to his two years less a day sentence, MacDougall is on three years probation.
He is prohibited for 10 years from attending a public park, swimming area, daycare centre, school grounds, playgrounds or community centre where persons under the age of 16 are present, having contact with any person who is under the age of 16 and accessing equipment that has internet capabilities.
He is also banned from attending the Confederation Centre Public Library.
MacDougall is now on the national sex offender registry, must provide his DNA and pay $400 in victim surcharges.
