Woman sentenced for making and sharing child porn with her 4-year-old son

A disturbing case wrapped up in Red Deer court on Thursday when a local mother was sentenced for sending pornographic images of her four-year-old son to a man in Idaho.

The 44-year-old woman, whose name is under publication ban in order to protect the identity of her son, pleaded guilty in April to counts of sexual assault, making child pornography and distributing child pornography.

Justice James Glass sentenced her to 3.5 years in prison. The Crown had requested a five-year sentence while the defense was seeking an 18-month prison term. The woman must submit a DNA sample and will be added to the National Sex Offender Registry.

She must also abide by several court-ordered conditions which include:

– While incarcerated and upon her release she may only have contact with her son while his legal guardian is present;

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– Avoid contact with any children under the age of 16 upon her release and stay away from places frequented by young children;

– Upon her release she will internet access only from a library or her place of employment.

An investigation was launched in May 2016 after police in Idaho notified the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit about some material seized in a separate investigation.

Investigators say explicit photos of the boy were e-mailed to a man in Idaho who they believe was arranging to visit Red Deer at some point.

The Idaho man is currently serving an 18 year prison sentence.

The woman was arrested June 1, 2016 at a licensed daycare facility in Red Deer where she worked. Police said at the time that neither the daycare nor any other children were involved with what took place.

Calgary-based Crown Prosecutor Carolyn Ayre told court on Thursday that the woman is solely responsible for what she did. Defense lawyer Robert Sproule offered that she was pressured into doing what she did by the man in Idaho.

“I am so, so sorry,” the woman said prior to learning her fate, calling the things she did to her son “horrific” and saying she did them during what was a chaotic time in her life.

“I know that I hurt my son and it tears me apart,” she added.

As the sentencing hearing was wrapping up, court learned the woman has since been charged for having contact with two children, neither of them her own. She has pleaded not guilty to failure to comply with conditions. Trial is slated for July 28.