Child porn charge nets 18-month prison term

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This article was published 06/09/2018 (2058 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Steinbach man, who was a victim of abuse in his youth, is now headed to prison for 18 months after being sentenced in Steinbach court on a charge of possessing child pornography.

Wilmar Kehler first pled guilty to the Nov. 3, 2016 charge this spring.

Crown attorney Kristee Logan shared that 2,246 unique child pornography images were found by police on a computer used by Kehler. In earlier court proceedings it was noted a roommate at Kehler’s residence in Steinbach alerted police to the images.

Logan said none of photos included children known to police, all appeared to be downloaded from the internet. Images depicted young females in erotic poses, Logan said, including children as young as six months old up to 15 years of age.

She and defence lawyer Alan Libman presented the 18-month sentence as a joint recommendation to Judge Brian Corrin. A sentence of that length, Libman explained, would help ensure Kehler received the appropriate length of treatment through programming available at Headingley Correctional Centre.

Corrin, in his ruling, reflected on Kehler’s pre-sentence report, which described substance abuse issues and how Kehler himself was a victim of sexual abuse at a young age.

“It’s an unfortunate outcome of hardship and tragic circumstances of his childhood and youth,” observed Corrin.

Following his release from prison, Kehler will be placed a two year probation period. He will also be registered as a sex offender and have his access to children and the internet restricted for a period of 10 years.