A Penticton man caught sharing spy cam photos of his teenage stepdaughter in the bathroom will spend 36 months in prison. On Friday in Penticton Superior Court, Judge Gordon Fudd handed down his sentence, which was the minimum Crown prosecutors had sought. The Penticton man, known as “Mr. X” to protect his victim’s identity, previously pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography after sending 13 images of his stepdaughter in a state of undress to an undercover FBI agent. He took the images using battery-powered spy cameras installed in the bathroom and captured the shower and toilet, as well as other areas of the house, for two years. The child was then between 12 and 15 years old. Mr X told the undercover agent he thought it was “hot” to share the photos with “like-minded people”. A search warrant executed in January 2020 at Mr. X’s property found 314 unique images and 20 unique videos that met the definition of child pornography. Many were from his stepdaughter, but others were from unidentified children. In his sentencing, Justice Funt relied on case law addressing the long-term psychological consequences for victims of child pornography, even if they have not been physically touched. “Young people dream. [The victim] he might want to be, say, an actor. [She] he may wish to become an MP. [She] he may want to enjoy a simple and quiet family life,” Funt said. “[The victim] She knows there are images and videos of her taken over a two-year period where she probably took a shower or toilet while she was between 12 and 15 years old. Regardless of the dream, [the victim] he now has to live with the uncertain threat that the images and videos may resurface at any time.” Food noted that Mr X pleaded guilty voluntarily, pays for his own counseling in the years since the offense and has expressed that he is “horrified” by his actions. “I gave weight to the fact that [Mr. X] has sought counseling, is receptive to more advice, and has developed some insight into the offense. Absent such, I would have condemned [Mr. X] to 42 months in prison,” Funt said. Mr X’s stepdaughter is said to have received treatment and is “doing well”, according to her mother.
