A Red Deer man who was found in possession of more than 2,000 pictures of child pornography has been sentenced to a year in jail.
Randy William Adams, 53, of Red Deer pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child porn and was sentenced in Red Deer court Tuesday.
The collection, which the Crown described as ‘absolutely vile,’ belonged Adams.
Police were alerted of Adams after a USB device was found in a public place by an individual on Oct. 19, 2011 containing both child porn and Adams’ resume.
Adams was later arrested on March 8, 2012.
Adams was in possession of 2,005 images as well as more than 20 videos of child porn.
The Crown said the images were graphic and showed children being abused, ranging in age from infancy to pre-pubescence. Adams had been collecting images from 2007 until 2011.
Adams also edited, using Photoshop, himself into some the pictures, with girls as young as five, and wrote captions of what he or the abused child might say.
In the agreed statement of facts it is also admitted he would masturbate to these images, some showing graphic abuse, including vaginal and anal penetration.
Adams said he started to look at child porn out of curiosity, but then started saving the images.
The defence had Adams take the stand as there was some question with regard to his remorse about the matter.
The Crown said in his pre-sentence report and psychological evaluation there was little indication Adams had made the connection that the images off the internet were real children.
On the stand, during Crown cross-examination, he said it was a dream world, but he knew a real child was being abused.
Adams also said he was relieved when he was caught.
When under examination by the defence, that he knew the children were victims.
The judge later said he had some doubts about Adams’ remorse and he thought the answers given during his testimony were what Adams thought the judge wanted to hear.
But the judge did consider his remorse as a mitigating factor when rendering his decision.
The defence pointed to Adams’ past as mitigating factors in this event.
They said Adams was socially isolated and in need of help.
He had been married for 10 years and had two adult children, but had little contact with them.
He lives alone and is essentially isolated. Adams had sought counselling since he was 15 for depression, self-loathing, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and that he was possibly bi-polar.
Adams also had a troubled upbringing. He was emotionally and physically abused as a child, he witnessed his father threaten his mother with a gun.
When he was 13 his parents told him he was adopted.
There was also some indication Adams was sexually abused when he was seven by a neighbour, but details were vague.
While the Crown suggested a penalty of one year in jail followed by three years of probation, the defence instead asked for three to six months in jail.
The judge agreed with the Crown’s assessment of the nature of the images and said they were abhorrent.
The judge agreed with the Crown’s sentencing submission and ordered Adams into custody for one year, as well as three years probation.
Conditions on the probation were also attached, aimed at preventing future child porn use.
Adams was ordered not to possess any electronic device that is capable of viewing or storing child porn and he is not to have contact with anyone under the age of 16 unless in the presence of that’s child’s immediate parent.
Adams also received a 10 year ban from attending any public place park, daycare, community centre, school or place where someone under the age of 16 is likely to be.
Adams has also been placed on the sex offender information registry for 10 years.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com