|
A
Toronto kiddie porn distributor who transmitted thousands
of "graphic and disturbing" images around the
world was handed a nine-month conditional sentence yesterday.
Justice
Richard Schneider gave "Alex" Yong Jun Kim a
stay-at-home sentence after the 20-year-old man pleaded
guilty earlier this year to one count each of distributing
and possessing child pornography last January.
Kim
admitted he received between 400 and 700 pictures from
perverts around the world and sent them between 200 and
350 images a night for eight consecutive nights, said
Crown attorney Lisa Henderson, who asked Kim receive up
to 15 months in jail.
Kim,
who forfeited one computer containing the porn, was able
to keep his other four computers but was ordered to keep
away from areas frequented by children for two years.
He's
also prohibited from being alone with minors and must
let police search his Dixon Rd. home's computers between
8 a.m. and 7 p.m. He must perform 200 hours of community
service and supply a DNA sample and was put on a year's
probation.
The
seemingly light sentence speaks volumes about the judiciary's
understanding of child pornography and its connection
to child sexual abuse, frustrated investigators said.
"It's
outrageous. We aren't talking about (only) a collector,
but a distributor of sickening material depicting babies
to teenage girls in sexual acts," said Det. Const.
Janet Hall from the Toronto Police child exploitation
section.
"It's
a slap on the wrist for a promoter of sexual abuse and
an ugly mark on the justice system. This is simply deplorable."
Det.-Sgt.
Paul Gillespie, child porn unit boss, said Kim was running
"an organized criminal operation," and instead
of money or drugs was paid in child abuse images.
"This
sentence reflects the lack of understanding of this crime,"
Gillespie said. "The way he was trafficking is the
very reason there is so much of it on the Internet."
Court
heart Kim's lurid collection -- traded through a file-sharing
program linked to the Web 24 hours a day -- included thousands
of photos and movies depicting forced fellatio, intercourse,
bondage and some bestiality.
Although
the judge described the porn as "graphic and disturbing,"
he said, "I can't think of a more meritorious case
for a conditional sentence."
Schneider
said the sentence was warranted because Kim is young,
it was his first offence, he had a previously good character,
and he didn't profit from the enterprise.
He
also said Kim wasn't increasing the pornography pool because
he only traded with those who already had collections.
Hall
said that lenient sentences are deflating for police who
watch the accused walk out of court instead of into jail.
"There's
no real punishment," Hall said.
"Toronto's
becoming one of the leaders in the world in child pornography
(distribution) and it's not a distinction we want. Do
you have to kidnap a 10-year-old ... before people pay
attention? It's all part of the same cycle of abuse.
|
