SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Former Yellowknife lawyer and convicted sex offender Charles McGee has been sentenced to one year in jail and three years probation after more than 80,000 files relating to child pornography were detected on his home computers.

Charles McGee in 2002

Police found tens of thousands of photos, narratives about child pornography and child-related fantasy material when they searched his computer in July 2008.

"Some are very graphic and describe sexual assaults on children," Crown prosecutor Janice Walsh said in territorial court on Monday.

Citing a forensic assessment by a psychologist in Edmonton, Walsh said McGee is aroused by young girls, with a preference for those ages nine to 12, and admits to looking at the child if he sees a mother and her daughter on the street.

In June, McGee, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of accessing child pornography and one count of breaching the agreement he had with court not to use the Internet or view pornography.

Walsh said despite admitting he has a problem, McGee "glorifies and is still focused on the pre-pubescent form."

"It's clear to me McGee has difficulty in everyday interaction with females, including inter-familial relations," Walsh said.

During that same assessment, McGee admitted to having physical contact with seven girls. In 2004 and 2006, he was convicted of molesting three girls, relating to two incidents in 1974 and one the early 1980s.

Defence lawyer Robert Davidson said McGee said "pedophilia is a crippling illness," and said the offences happened late at night when McGee was under the influence of alcohol.

"He had multiple psychiatric issues ... and he had a horrific substance abuse problem," said Davidson.

Asking the court to consider his client's willingness to seek treatment, Davidson said McGee started an AA program last fall and has sought counselling.

Married with three children, McGee's wife of 37 years and a daughter sat behind him in court.

"I finally hit rock bottom ... This is something that troubled me greatly. I hated myself for it," he said in an address to the court, adding, "It takes time."

"I came here today grateful for my sobriety ... it came about as a direct result of these charges," he said. McGee said he was prepared to move to Edmonton to access a sex offender rehabilitation program.

"There are temptations, urges, attractions I have to recognize and deal with," he said.

Judge J. J. Desjardins said accessing child pornography was a crime the court couldn't ignore.

"I sense he has not yet come to a full understanding of his addiction," he said.

In addition to 12 months in jail and three years probation, Desjardins ordered McGee to pay a $500 victim surcharge to benefit "children of the world," to abstain completely from alcohol and participate in Alcoholics Anonymous.

McGee is also forbidden to have unsupervised contact with individuals under 15 years of age, including family members. He will be registered in the sex offenders registry and cannot use the Internet for the duration of his probation.

"It's a lifelong problem or process. The first three years should give you enough momentum to continue seeking help," said Desjardins.