Penticton man sentenced to jail for sex offenses.

(MEAGHAN ARCHER / iNFOnews.ca)

PENTICTON — A Penticton man will spend 411 more days in jail for a collection of child porn found on his computer and shared in online chatrooms.

Mark Henry Snowden, born in 1962, was convicted on one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. In 2012, police found 124 images and 40 videos of underaged girls on Snowden’s computer. He shared 74 images on chat rooms with other users with similar sexual interests.

Snowden told police he had a distinct interest in nine-year-old girls. But since he has such a broad interest and has no record of having sex with a minor, Judge Gregory Koturbash said he is low-to-moderate risk to reoffend.

Police found records of Snowden providing counsel to a young girl expressing interest in having sex with her father. They also found photos of children at beaches on one of Snowden’s cameras.

His lawyer, Jim Pennington, said lots of people have made a living taking photos of children on beaches.

“I can tell you right now I wouldn’t want Mr. Snowden photographing my children on the beach,” Koturbash said.

“That’s your preference,” Pennington said.

Snowden appeared in Penticton Provincial court via video conference from Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, where he has been in custody since February. He was taken in early because he gave up his apartment and packed away his belongings, expecting to be locked up after his last court date almost two months ago.

Time and a half served will be deducted from since overall sentencing.

Koturbash placed several restrictions on the three-year probation sentence, including no contact, direct or indirect contact with persons under 16; no computer access, except for work-related purposes; and no access to internet anywhere, or on any technological device.

A 10 year order was also placed restricting Snowden from attending parks, schools, daycares, or any place where there are, or could be children under 16-years-old.

“[There is a] strong need to keep you away from any temptations or compulsions,” Koturbash said. “I sincerely hope you take advantage of the treatments offered to you.”

Snowden will also be on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life.

— To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014