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July 28, 2017 - 9:00 PM
CONTENT ADVISORY
KAMLOOPS - A Kamloops man whose computer stored hundreds of child pornography files will spend three years behind bars and must register as a lifetime sex offender.
Arnold Rand Arnason, born 1960, appeared in Kamloops Supreme Court today, July 28, to learn his fate, more than one year after his original sentencing hearing was scheduled.
The circumstances of the case are disturbing, Crown prosecutor Tim Livingston pointed out. An investigation by police in Quebec in February 2014 ultimately led to Arnason’s arrest.
Police downloaded files Arnason shared on a peer-to-peer file sharing network and 75 files met the criteria for child pornography, court heard. They traced the user to Kamloops and notified the B.C. Integrated Child Exploitation unit.
Investigators there obtained a production order and a warrant was executed at Arnason’s home in February 2015. While the search was being conducted, Arnason spoke with an officer outside of his home and said police would find child pornography on his computer.
Out of 5,000 images found on Arnason’s computer, more than 1,300 met the criteria for child pornography. Livingston says more than 300 videos were also found on his computer.
A summary report of some videos was read into the record today, the details of which are disturbing.
One of the titles included the name of a 10-year-old girl along with the description of “little girl loves adult sex.” Another title described a 10- to 13-year-old girl having intercourse with an adult male.
“These are disturbing descriptions, let alone what these videos must depict,” Livingston said. “The document speaks for itself.”
There were also chat logs found on the file-sharing website, one of which showed a conversation between Arnason and a user named “Lonely Dad.” User Lonely Dad discussed how he had sex with his daughters, to which Arnason replied that Lonely Dad was lucky, and he wished he had a daughter.
Parts of a psychological report were read in court by Livingston, which detailed how Arnason minimalized his offences and didn’t fully understand the seriousness of his offences.
But defence lawyer Ken Sommerfeld said Arnason’s attitude has changed after numerous conversations about how the children in these videos are real and are severely impacted by these crimes.
“He backed off from the attitudes that might be found in the reports,” Sommerfeld said.
In a joint-submission with the Crown, Sommerfeld said a three-year jail sentence is what his client needs.
“He needs a chance to experience the programs available in a federal penitentiary system,” he said.
Kamloops Supreme Court judge Dev Dley agreed with the sentence and ordered Arnason to spend three years behind bars.
“It is, to put mildly, demeaning to the children involved,” Dley said of the videos. “The actions described can only have a significant and lasting impact (on the children).”
There is no evidence to suggest Arnason physically acted out any sexual acts with any children.
Along with his three-year sentence for a charge of possessing child pornography and another charge of importing or distributing child pornography, Arnason will register as a lifetime sex offender and have a lifetime internet prohibition.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017