THUNDER BAY — A local man who worked as a teacher for more than 20 years has pleaded guilty to a charge relating to child pornography.
Jason Sparling, 46, appeared via video before Justice Rebecca Shamai in a Thunder Bay courtroom on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
As part of a joint submission, Sparling received a 12-month conditional sentence to be followed by two years probation.
According to an agreed statement of facts read into the court record, in October 2019 the Thunder Bay Police Service became aware of a local internet user downloading images consistent with child pornography.
The IP address being used was registered to Sparling and a search warrant was executed on his home where several electronic devices were seized.
Investigators discovered more than 100 images consistent with child pornography on Sparling’s phone and he was charged on Nov. 26, 2019 with accessing child pornography and possession of child pornography.
At the time of his arrest, Sparling was employed as a teacher with the Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales. He was suspended without pay as a result of his arrest and he has since found work elsewhere.
The court heard that Sparling did not have a criminal record prior to his arrest. He also underwent a psychiatric assessment, which the court heard determined he is considered low risk to re-offend or repeat similar behaviour.
“I don’t know what I can say,” Sparling told the court when given an opportunity to speak. “I’m horrified at what happened. I take responsibility for it and it will never happen again. I am so sorry for any harm I caused to anybody over this.”
A joint submission on sentence was presented by the Crown and defense counsel calling for a 12-month conditional sentence order. The first six months of the conditional sentence Sparling will be under house arrest while the remaining six months will include a curfew.
Following the conditional sentence, Sparling will be subject to two years probation where he will be required to continue counselling. He is also not to be in the presence of anyone under the age of 16 without a responsible adult aware of his charges and will have restrictions on his internet use.
“I give you credit for taking responsibility for this. I can hear the remorse as you address the court,” Shamai said.
“Hearing your background as a teacher with the Catholic board for a 20-year period, being the father of three children, it’s hard to reconcile the circumstances of the offence with the otherwise stellar responsibility you have taken on many fronts in the community.”
Sparling will also be required to submit a DNA sample and register with the Sexual Offender Information Registry for a period of 10 years.
