(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
October 16, 2015 - 1:52 PM
KAMLOOPS - A convicted sex offender pleaded guilty in Kamloops Provincial Court today, Oct. 16 to breaching his probation conditions after he was removed from two of his court-ordered rehabilitation sessions.
Francis Desmet, 65, was convicted in 2012 of making and distributing child pornography in Kelowna and sentenced to 18 months in jail. After his release, he was placed on a 12-month probationary period, which included group counsel sessions.
Crown prosecutor Monica Fras said Desmet was charged after failing to participate in the group sessions and for bringing a pamphlet titled ’10 myths about sex offenders’ which she said he handed to the rest of the members. At one point, Fras said Desmet brought a tablet to a session and told the group he would be on TV. She said group facilitators suspected he was filming the group.
Eric Rines, Desmet’s lawyer, said he pleaded guilty to the breach because he wasn’t participating to a satistactory standard of the program and said it was the group setting which wasn’t working for his client.
“He understands the conditions that will be imposed by his probation period. He’s working on putting this behind him,” he said.
Judge Roy Dickey ordered a longer three-year probation which includes terms prohibiting Desmet from visiting parks or recreational centres where children under the age of 16 may be.
He has been ordered to complete counselling.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015