A view of downtown Saint John, N.B.Brian Atkinson/The Globe and Mail
A former municipal politician and youth worker in Saint John, N.B., has been given an 18-year prison sentence for sexually abusing and making pornographic images of boys over a 12-year span.
Donnie Snook pleaded guilty in May to 46 charges, including sexual assault and possessing, making and distributing child pornography.
The crimes involved 17 boys, most of whom were from the Saint John area and between the ages of five and 15 at the time of the offences.
At his sentencing hearing in August, the 41-year-old man said he was ashamed of his actions and told the provincial court that he was sexually abused as a boy in Newfoundland.
The Crown argued for a 21-year prison sentence for Snook, who was arrested after a lengthy investigation involving the Saint John and Toronto police and the seizure of thousands of photos and videos of child pornography.
The defence argued for a 12-year prison term, saying Snook is willing to help the victims in any way he can and is eager to undergo rehabilitation.
Snook also faces two counts each of sexual assault and sexual interference involving a boy for alleged incidents in the mid-1990s in Newfoundland.