This story is sexual in nature. Reader discretion is advised.
AUTUMN MacDONALD
Observer Reporter
Jason Chukra, 39, was sentenced to three months in jail and two years probation for access of 879 photographs and 92 films consisting of child pornography.
Chukra, charged with possession of child pornography, was arrested in March of 2009 after policing partners across Canada carried out the largest ever co-ordinated investigation into Internet-facilitated child sexual abuse in the country.
The investigation, dubbed “Project Salvo”, was coordinated by the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre and developed in conjunction with its domestic policing partners.
The investigation focused on users that would meet other like-minded individuals and exchange child sexual abuse images online.
Judge Dennis Morgan requested descriptions of the child pornography material prior to handing down his sentence.
“We saw one video at the RCMP station,” defence Tony Zip said.
“That video is described in the document [your Honour has].”
Zip pointed to the fact “only one image depicted vaginal penetration, with no images containing anal penetration and none depicting violence; except one in which a prepubescent teen is naked on a bed with the words Hurt Me written on it.”
Zip referenced Chukra’s alibi in which he told the court he [Chukra] had come across the computer at a recycling station.
“He booted it up, saw the images and unfortunately continued to look at them,” Zip said.
Defence asked for a two months jail sentence to be carried out on an “intermittent basis” due to Chukra’s self-employment.
“There’s not a huge number of images and no distribution,” Zip said.
“And as disturbing as they [images] are, they are not as revolting as others.”
Morgan referenced several cases in which he was basing his sentencing on. He also made note of the nature of the material.
“The offending material consists of many photos of prepubescent females, naked and exposing their private parts,” he said.
Morgan pointed to his sentencing acting as a denunciation and deterrence, adding “sentences must be severe enough to reflect society’s abhorrence.”
Morgan denied the request for intermittent jail-time, sentenced Chukra to three months jail and two years probation with a number of stipulations, including:
• no contact with person(s) under 16 years of age, unless accompanied by an adult;
• no Internet access, except for work;
• no attendance in public parks, arenas, pools, schools, or anywhere someone under the age of 16 might be in attendance;
• compliance with the Sex Offenders Registration Act for 10 years.