Sentencing hearing for former Ont deputy education minister hears child porn details
Posted Apr 13, 2015 2:10 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – A Toronto courtroom has heard graphic descriptions of child pornography files found on a computer belonging to a man who was once deputy education minister for Ontario and Manitoba.
The details were provided as the sentencing hearing for Benjamin Levin got underway.
Levin pleaded guilty to three child pornography-related charges last month.
The 63-year-old was originally charged with seven child porn-related offences.
The Toronto police detective who led the investigation into Levin was called as a Crown witness at Monday’s sentencing hearing and described a number of files found on Levin’s computer which were considered child pornography.
The images themselves, and two videos, were shown only to the judge presiding over the case, but court heard that all of them involved girls under the age of 18, with many of them considered pre-pubescent.
Levin took notes and kept his eyes cast downward as the files found on his computer were described.
In a written statement distributed by his lawyer, he has said he’s “deeply ashamed” of his actions.
Court has heard that Levin used to frequent an online website with numerous chatrooms for the discussion of sexual activities.
His profile on the site was created in 2010 and indicated his sexuality as “nothing is taboo.”
Among the people he chatted with were an undercover officer in Toronto, one in London, Ont., and one in New Zealand — all posing as women interested in sexual activities with children.
