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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
A Fort Smith man has been sent to jail for voyeurism and possession of child pornography – offences which the sentencing judge described as "repugnant."

Michael Daniel Dollman arrives at the Fort Smith Courthouse for sentencing on Oct. 5. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

In Fort Smith territorial court on Oct. 5, Michael Daniel Dollman received 12 months imprisonment for possession of child pornography.

Dollman also received three months for two charges of voyeurism, involving surreptitiously videotaping people in a place where they would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Dollman, who had no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty in August.

The 50-year-old declined to make a statement to the court and had no visible reaction to the sentence.

The charges were laid last year after an eight-month investigation by the RCMP.

In passing sentence, Judge Robert Gorin noted Dollman was found to be in possession of 1,888 digital images of child pornography on various electronic devices.

Some of the images were of adults engaged in intercourse with children.

"The images included images of violent sexual assaults being carried out on children and children being restrained or bound while being sexually assaulted in this manner," Gorin said, adding a number of digital videos were also found in Dollman's possession.

In particular, two movies depicted intercourse with children, including one who was said to be six years of age.

More than 1,000 child pornography incest stories stored digitally were also found in Dollman's possession.

Gorin noted that, in a pre-sentence report, Dollman maintained he obtained the items years before because he was simply curious to see what forms of sexual images and pornography existed on the Internet.

The accused had no explanation for keeping the images other than saying he rarely throws things out.

Gorin rejected those explanations.

In the pre-sentence report, Dollman stated he is not attracted to children.

"I don't believe him," Gorin said.

The offences were discovered when Dollman left a thumb drive containing some of the images at his place of employment. A co-worker observed the images and called the RCMP.

As for the voyeurism charges, Gorin noted Dollman maintained he was only interested in obtaining a video of a woman, but edited videos of the adult and a boy.

The judge called it a gross invasion of privacy.

A court order bans publication of any information that could identify the victims.

In passing sentence, Gorin noted deterrence and denunciation are paramount goals.

"The sentence imposed by the court must adequately reflect society's condemnation of the crime," he said. "It must adequately express society's abhorrence with such repugnant activity."

Gorin said, if there was not a demand for child pornography, there would not be harm to children from its production.

In possessing the material, Dollman contributed to the the horrific acts, the judge said. "As well, he contributed to the demand for similar material. In doing so, he contributed to the increase in likelihood of such acts being committed in the future."

In sentencing, Gorin gave Dollman credit for an early guilty plea and co-operating with police.

Dollman was sentenced to three years probation following his release from jail.

Terms of the probation include no contact with any person younger than 18 years of age, unless supervised by a responsible adult.

Plus, he is not to possess or use any computer except when necessary for employment, and is prohibited from setting up an Internet account.

"He is not to access the Internet whatsoever, except as may be necessary during the course of his employment," Gorin said.

In addition, for 10 years following his release, Dollman will be prohibited from attending a public park or swimming area, daycare, school ground or community centre where persons under the age of 16 years may be present.

He will also be prohibited from employment or a volunteer position of trust involving persons under the age of 16 years, and banned from using a computer to communicate with a person under the age of 16 years.

Dollman was ordered to comply with provisions of the Sex Offender Information Registry Act for 10 years following his release.

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