(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

CONTENT ADVISORY

KELOWNA – An Alberta man was sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of crimes the judge called “breathless in their brutality.”

Steven Craig Walsh, 47, pleaded guilty to counts of sexual interference of a minor and production of child pornography for a year of abuse he inflicted on a young girl in 2012.

Judge Mark Takahashi delivered the sentence after more than a year of unnecessary delays while Walsh hired and fired close to half a dozen lawyers from Alberta, Kelowna and Victoria. He also failed to attend a scheduled psychological assessment, claiming he was not informed.

Judge Takahashi said he believed Walsh intentionally did not attend and described him as “demanding and controlling.”

A search of Walsh’s computer and camera resulted in police finding still photos and video of him forcing himself on the girl, who Takahashi says had come to believe “was appropriate.”

“Maybe she did it because she saw it got me happy,” Walsh told one investigator.

Kelowna RCMP began investigating Walsh in May 2012 after employees at a local hotel told police a man and a young girl he said was his daughter were seen kissing in a hot tub.

“One witness says she saw them acting like boyfriend and girlfriend,” Crown lawyer Dave Grabavac said on the first day of sentencing submissions in Kelowna Provincial Court today. Dec. 5.

Walsh was sentenced to five years in jail for the sexual interference and another two years for the production of child pornography. He is also forbidden from contact with the victim or her family and from attending locations where children are likely to be present.

Court heard that Walsh has a relationship with a woman now, and they have a child together.

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