Editor's note: This story contains details that might be disturbing to some readers.
An Abbotsford man who had amassed more than 12,000 images of child sexual abuse has been sentenced to a one-year jail term and three years of probation.
Judge Dannielle Dunn sentenced Caleb Abraham Janzen, 36, on Thursday (May 1) in Abbotsford provincial court, rejecting the joint sentencing submission of the Crown and defence lawyers.
Both lawyers had jointly recommended a two-year conditional sentence and 18 months香蕉视频直播 probation, meaning Janzen would have served his time in the community.
It香蕉视频直播檚 unusual for a judge to go outside of a joint submission, but Dunn said she took into account that Janzen was previously convicted 香蕉视频直播 in December 2019 香蕉视频直播 of a charge of distributing child porn. At that time, he was handed a six-month conditional sentence and 18 months香蕉视频直播 probation.
Dunn said the lawyers香蕉视频直播 sentencing recommendation on Janzen香蕉视频直播檚 current charge of possession of child pornography 香蕉视频直播 to which he previously pleaded guilty 香蕉视频直播 was based on court cases in which the accused had no prior criminal record.
She said rejecting a joint submission is done only in rare circumstances.
香蕉视频直播淚 find that a person so informed of the facts of this particular offence and this offender would find that a non-custodial sentence is so unhinged as to bring the administration of justice into disrepute,香蕉视频直播 Dunn said.
Janzen was arrested and charged following an investigation that started in June 2022.
U.S. Homeland Security discovered that materials containing child sexual abuse were sent to an email address that later proved to be Janzen香蕉视频直播檚.
Two search warrants executed at Janzen香蕉视频直播檚 home in Abbotsford resulted in the seizure of three cellphones.
Dunn said a detective from the Abbotsford Police Department extracted data from the devices and found 12,485 files that met the definition of child pornography under the Criminal Code.
Five of those images were presented as court evidence as a representative sample.
Dunn said the images were of girls between the ages of five and nine who were naked or mostly naked. Two were bound with rope at the wrists and ankles.
Four of the five images showed the girls being sexually assaulted by men.
香蕉视频直播淭hese images are beyond disturbing. These victims may be unknown, but they are out there somewhere,香蕉视频直播 Dunn said.
She said in a psychological assessment of Janzen, he questioned how his actions could negatively impact children when he only viewed 香蕉视频直播 but did not produce 香蕉视频直播 the material.
But in a later report, Janzen was quoted as saying, 香蕉视频直播淓very time you view it, you香蕉视频直播檙e supporting what is happening. You香蕉视频直播檙e hurting them too.香蕉视频直播
The reports also indicated that Janzen has a learning disability and attention deficit disorder, lives off income disability assistance benefits, and
spends most of his time playing video games and watching movies.
Dunn said after Janzen香蕉视频直播檚 2019 sentencing, he completed a sex offender program and stopped viewing materials of child sexual abuse for a few months. But he eventually began accessing it again through the dark web.
香蕉视频直播淗e stated that he was looking for a thrill, but the images and videos were not giving him the same thrill as before. Mr. Janzen reported that he was viewing it more often and for longer durations,香蕉视频直播 Dunn said.
香蕉视频直播淗e reported becoming concerned that he may commit a contact offence, which is an offence involving direct contact.香蕉视频直播
Dunn said since his latest arrest, Janzen has indicated he is willing to complete further programming and believes that, after being baptized in a church in 2024, his religion will keep him from further offending.
香蕉视频直播淗e reported that his involvement in church is helping him to avoid thoughts, urges to access CSAM (child sexual abuse materials). He stated that he would 香蕉视频直播檛alk to God香蕉视频直播 if he ever had thought or urges again,香蕉视频直播 she said.
Dunn said a jail sentence is necessary in this case because Janzen had a prior conviction, the images in his possession depict sexual violence of children under nine years old, he had more than 12,000 images stored, and a psychologist determined he is a 香蕉视频直播渕oderate to high risk香蕉视频直播 to re-offend.
Following his jail term, Janzen香蕉视频直播檚 probation will include several conditions such as not accessing the internet or using a cellphone except for the purposes of attending virtual court appearances, contacting his probation officer, or for employment or an emergency.
He will also be prohibited from going to public parks, swimming areas, playgrounds, daycare centres and other areas where kids under the age of 16 are expected to be, except with the written permission of his probation officer.