Porn Gave Kids Knowhow to
Assault Their Friends

They were children, acting out the pornography they had seen. One boy was 12. He learned it from watching cable TV and clicking on pornographic "pop-ups" on the Internet. Another boy was 13. He watched it on cable and the Net. The girl was about the same age. She saw it on TV. All imitated the pornography they had witnessed, engaging in acts that police say went far beyond any normal sexual experimentation that might occur at that age. None had been in any trouble before. All came from good homes. Their victims were boys and girls. All under 12. All their friends.

Since last summer, Hamilton police have conducted three investigations into children who have been exposed to porn and then used their newfound knowledge to sexually assault other children. Child abuse Detective Rick Arnold say there are several similar investigations now under way. It is a recent and profoundly disturbing trend that has police questioning the roots of the children's behaviour. It is such a rare occurrence that one forensic psychiatrist calls it "uncharted territory."

Even the best kids need to have parental supervision over their TV and Internet use, says Arnold. And parents need to keep the lines of communication - especially about sex - open. "Parents can have control over this," Arnold said.

The actions of these three youths is more likely the result of misguided experimentation and imitation than deep-rooted deviance, says Dr. Steven Hucker, head of forensic psychiatry at McMaster University and an expert in sexual psychopathology. Children with "growing minds" who are on the cusp of puberty and are exposed to pornography might become desensitized to it and begin to think that is normal behaviour, said Hucker. He adds that very little research has been done into these sorts of crimes. Hamilton police are trying to learn from the cases they've investigated.

The 12-year-old boy chose neighbourhood children as his targets. One was an 11-year-old girl who he convinced to participate in mutual touching. She was not forced, police say. The other three victims were siblings, eight to 10. The encounters occurred last spring and summer, in back yards and parks.

The first adult to learn of it was the siblings' father. He overheard two of his children talking at the breakfast table. A comment was made that disturbed him. He began to ask questions. After he got the answers, he called police. That was last July. Arnold investigated the allegations.
Brought the 12-year-old boy and his shocked and horrified parents in for questioning. The boy admitted what he had done. He also dropped the bombshell that he had gotten his ideas from pornography. After consulting with the victims' families and the boy's parents, police chose not to lay charges. Instead, alternative measures were applied under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the boy was ordered to undergo counselling. "He was very distraught. He was remorseful," said Arnold. In order for alternative measures to be evoked under the YCJA, an accused must first admit what they have done is wrong.

The 13-year-old boy performed sex acts on a 7-year-old girl he babysat. The families of the boy and girl were friends and nobody had any concerns about the babysitting arrangement. The boy looked after the girl several times at her home. Over a nine-month period, from December 2002 to August 2003, he persuaded her to touch him numerous times, Arnold said. Eventually, the girl told her mother what was happening. The mother did not initially call the police. "The parents got the impression it was just an isolated incident," Arnold said. They spoke to the boy's parents and thought it was resolved. It wasn't until later, when they realized their daughter had been assaulted numerous times, that police were contacted. This boy also admitted what he had done. He revealed he was inspired by porn on cable TV and the Internet. Again, no charges were laid. Counselling was ordered under the YCJA. "He was quite a shy, quiet young man. Quite embarrassed by the whole situation," said Arnold.

The third investigation, which took place late last fall, had a gender difference. This time, it was a girl accused of sexually touching her victims. She had watched cable porn while she was babysitting. She too was ordered to have counselling. All three accused children are unlikely to reoffend and are in a good position to be fully rehabilitated, said Arnold.

sclairmont@thespec.com or 905-526-3539

The Hamilton Spectator - March 31, 2004
Letter: An evil disease
By Fr. Bohdan Hladio, Hamilton

RE: 'Porn gave kids knowhow to assault their friends' (March 25) Susan Clairmont's column is a wakeup call to all those who regard pornography as nothing more than "harmless entertainment."

While sexual activity can be a great blessing, it can also contribute to a personal, familial, and societal hell when misused. The deeds of the young people mentioned in the article are, unfortunately, only a symptom. The disease which their actions point to is widespread in our society and extremely destructive and evil in its consequences. I pray that bringing incidences like this to light will give all of us pause to consider the consequences of this "innocent entertainment" and come to reconsider the way our media and entertainment industries seem to indiscriminately use sex simply to make money.

While it's true that parents must monitor their children's behaviour, even the best of children spend time away from their parents and have a normal curiosity. They, as well as the thousands of people exploited in the making of "adult" films, shouldn't have to suffer because of the immorality and greed of the pornography industry, as well as the lack of moral backbone manifested by legislators and members of the judiciary.