(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)
February 20, 2017 - 4:46 PM
KAMLOOPS - The former chief of Barriere's volunteer fire department and publisher of the town's local paper is expected to plead guilty to child pornography offences.
According to court documents, Al Kirkwood is expected to enter a guilty plea to two charges in May.
Kirkwood is facing two charges of importing and distributing child pornography, and a charge of possession of child pornography.
The allegations against the former fire chief and North Thompson Star Journal publisher came to light after an RCMP investigation. He is in his early 60s.
Police said in November the B.C. RCMP's Integrated Child Exploitation unit had launched an investigation in August after the United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, along with its Canadian counterpart, had turned over several "concerning reports."
Kirkwood was arrested in Barriere on Oct. 8, 2016 and was formally charged on Nov. 4, 2016.
RCMP originally said on Oct. 4 they executed search four search warrants in the Barriere and Clearwater areas.
Kirkwood's next court appearance is scheduled for May 8 in Kamloops Provincial Court, where he's expected to plead guilty to the offences.
There is no evidence to suggest any local children were directly victimized by the accused, police said at the time.
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