SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man pleaded guilty in territorial court Tuesday to possession of child pornography.

Harold Jerome Wedgerfield was arrested in March, 2009 and charged with one count of possessing child pornography, from Dec. 22, 2008, and one count of distributing child pornography, from March 5, 2009.

He was arrested as part of Project Salvo, which police at the time were calling the largest investigation of its kind in Canadian history.

The investigation led to the arrests of more than 50 people across the country on charges of sexual assault, sexual interference, and charges relating to the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography.

The investigation targeted pedophiles who met with other like-minded people on the internet to share child pornography images and video.

"Internet-facilitated child sexual abuse crosses many jurisdictions," said RCMP Superintendent John Bilinski in an news release posted to the national RCMP website on March 26, 2009.

"We are happy that many children have been saved from further victimization," said Bilinski.

Another NWT man was arrested around the same time as Wedgerfield for possessing child pornography.

His charges were later stayed.

Wedgerfield's court proceedings were adjourned in December. Both the defence and the Crown wanted to look at new evidence obtained by the forensic analysis of a computer.

Wedgerfield appeared in court dressed casually on Feb. 16. He's a heavyset, older-looking man.

Jay Bran appeared as an agent for Serge Petitpas, Wedgerfield's lawyer. Bran said the defence will be seeking a pre-sentence report. The fate of Wedgerfield's child pornography distribution charge was not discussed.

The maximum sentence for an indictment conviction of possession of child pornography is five years, while ten years is the maximum for distribution.

Wedgerfield is not in custody, and is scheduled to appear back in court on Feb. 23.