A psychological assessment report is expected to be ready next month for an Eckville sexual predator who targeted young children.
Last December, Red Deer provincial court Judge Jim Hunter ordered the 60-day psychological assessment after a 35-year-old man pleaded guilty to more than two dozen child sexual exploitation-related charges.
The man’s victims ranged in age from two to 10 years old. His identity cannot be published to protect the identity of his victims.
The case returned to court on Wednesday, which marked the end of the two-month assessment period. It will be back in court on March 11 for the filing of the assessment report.
Crown prosecutor Carolyn Ayre, from the specialized prosecutions office in Calgary, requested the assessment to see if the man behind the disturbing crimes meets the criteria to be declared a dangerous or long-term offender.
Over nearly a decade, the man took hundreds of photos and videos of children, some of whom were visiting or staying overnight for sleepovers.
He recorded himself sexual assaulting or molesting children many times, sharing some of the images on online child pornography sites.
Sentencing is expected to take place in October.