NANAIMO — A senior with no prior criminal record was handed six months house arrest followed by a year probation for possessing child pornography on his tablet.
Donald Robert Peech, 72, was sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 23 in provincial court in Nanaimo in relation to nine child porn images discovered by police at his Parksville home in 2020.
Peech, who had a long career in the financial sector, including nearly 20 years with the Canada Revenue Agency, was visibly distraught throughout his sentencing hearing.
“I exercised some really bad judgment and I’m suffering from the consequences as a result. I can assure you Your Honour I’m very sorry and it will never happen again.”
The emotional Peech said he now understands how possessing child porn perpetuates further abuse of children.
The Crown’s Leanne Mascolo told court Peech was flagged in May 2020 when the non-profit National Centre of Missing and Exploited Children received a report Peech was believed to be in possession of child porn.
On Dec. 9 2020 a search warrant by Oceanside RCMP at Peech’s home uncovered the disturbing material, which primarily involved naked children posing. In one of the images a girl was being sexually abused by a man.
Peech, who answered the knock on the door from police, admitted on the spot that he possessed the illegal material.
A pre sentence and psychological assessments were ordered when Peech pleaded guilty last February.
In those reports Peech demonstrated remorse and shame for his actions and was determined by a psychologist to be a low risk to re-offend.
Donald Peech will be on court-ordered restrictions for the next 18 months. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)Peech’s lawyer James Owen told court his client reported being drawn to child porn by curiosity and not sexual arousal.
Owen said social isolation played a role in his offending.
“Mr. Peech’s arrest has resulted in a great deal of shame and embarrassment, he put it to me that he has been living in his own hell — very isolated, very stressed, very anxious.”
Despite only attending one counselling session, Owen said his client is open to any form of counselling proposed.
Judge Karen Whonnock said possessing child porn causes continual damage, stating victims are constantly re-victimized when the material ends up online.
“Those who possess, view, chat about and exchange child pornography provide the encouragement and audience for those who abuse children in order to produce that content,” judge Whonnock said, who accepted a joint sentence recommendation.
Peech will be on house arrest between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. for the next six months under a conditional sentence order, followed by by one year probation.
Over the next 18 months numerous restrictive conditions will apply to Peech, including internet restrictions, counselling and staying away from all public recreational areas, schools and daycares where children under 16-years-old could be present.
Peech was ordered to provide a DNA sample, while he’ll also appear on the National Sex Offender Registry for 20 years.
Mandatory minimum jail sentences of three months behind bars for possessing child porn in the province were deemed to be unconstitutional in a 2018 B.C. Court of Appeal decision.
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