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THE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015
Man jailed for child porn
Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
A Prince George man was sentenced to 18 months in jail Monday after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography.
Joseph Samuel Sackaney, 50, was also sentenced to a consecutive term of 30 days for breaching the conditions of his bail while out of custody as his case went through the courts and he must also serve three years probation once the jail term is completed.
In issuing the terms, Prince George provincial court judge Michael Breck-nell agreed with a joint submission from Crown and defence counsels in which Sackaney’s “chaotic and dysfunctional upbringing” and the effects of the residential school system on aboriginal people were taken into account.
But in doing so, Brecknell also noted “hundreds and thousands of First Nations people in this country who suffered through similar consequences” have not gone on in their lives to commit crimes, let alone ones as “particularly pernicious and damaging” as Sackaney’s.
Investigators determined [Joseph Samuel Sackaney] had been accessing and downloading images and videos onto a laptop computer for about four-and-a-half years...
Sackaney was arrested at his home in October 2013 after the RCMP’s integrated child exploitation unit determined he had been accessing child pornography with the help of software designed to detect such viewers.
Investigators determined he had been accessing and downloading images and videos onto a laptop computer for about four-and-a-half years and had been storing material on an external drive for about four months. They also determined he had shared one of those files, leading to a charge of distributing child pornography.
Although he initially denied owning the external drive, found in the headboard of his bed, Sackaney ended up pleading guilty to all three charges laid against him at an early stage.
But while out on bail, he failed to appear for a court hearing in late April 2014 and had lost contact with his lawyer. A warrant was issued for his arrest, complete with RCMP issuing a photo of Sackaney that was printed and broadcast in both Prince George and Kamloops media.
He was arrested in mid-May 2014 when he was recognized while using a computer at the Kamloops Public Library, contrary to one of his bail conditions.
A complainant told police Sackaney had been using the computers on a regular basis and would try to take up more time than the one hour per day patrons are allowed.
He also appeared intoxicated at times and was asked to leave on one occasion because of his condition. Sackaney claimed he was using the computers to look for jobs and listening to music. He was arrested in late April 2014 when he was found passed out in front of a Kamloops elementary school, also contrary to his bail conditions, but the matter was not pursued, the court was told.
— see CHILD, page 3
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B.C. economy still in strong position: minister
Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca
Things look tough in some Canadian jurisdictions, but Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett said this province is on a better track than most others, thanks to a diverse economy.
He was in Toronto delivering that message last week, where he and the B.C. contingent got to ring the bell at the Toronto Stock Exchange. This week he is in Prince George at the Premier’s Natural Resources Forum, which opens tonight.
“I’m trying to attract business people and their resources to British Columbia,” he said.
“We have great infrastructure - ports, rail lines, highways, airports, power grid - we have a robust environmental permitting system, an educated workforce, political stability compared to a lot of places where resource industries are located, and a very advantageous tax structure within the Canadian context. We stress to potential investors that they have to foster a positive relationship with First Nations that might be affected by their plans, there has to be a strict adherence to environmental safeguards, but those things are a business strength. It builds an enduring business case for you, if you’re a
BENNETT
mining company.
“It becomes a selling feature for your products and services to have that transparency throughout the process.”
Lower global oil prices do cause a drag-down on the national economy and certainly
have a profound effect on the provincial budgets of Alberta and Saskatchewan primarily. It has also pulled down on natural gas prices to a degree. He said, though, because oil is a small player in the spectrum of B.C. commodities, this province is still in a strong position.
Many parts of those natural resource industries are actually helped by the low oil prices because fuel costs are lower for energy and transportation.
“It’s not all bad. There are winners in this,” he said.
“We have a great tourism industry, a significant high-tech industry, we have a significant forest industry as you well know in Prince George, a large and widespread agriculture industry, the oil and gas industry is certainly there with some significant opportunities there for the future, so we do have a diverse economy and overall I think we are going to have an excellent year ahead in B.C. We are going to balance the budget this year.
“It’s important for B.C. to retain that brand of excellence in fiscal management.”
Bennett said he will be in Prince George for several days this week, as part of the discussions at the Natural Resources Forum and the many meetings that surround the event.
Police discover break-in during training
Citizen staff
It was supposed to be a training session but it turned into a takedown.
RCMP apprehended two men Friday, arrested after North District RCMP’s emergency response team and Prince RCMP’s dog service team showed up at a building they use to hone their skills to discover it had been broken into and the culprits were likely still inside.
The teams surrounded the building, an abandoned warehouse on Pickering Road off Highway 16, just east of the Yellowhead Bridge, and despite being told to stop by police, the two men ran deeper into the building, RCMP said in a statement issued Monday.
Police service dog Azar was deployed and soon found them hiding in a room. When the suspects
still refused to comply, the dog was released and soon located one of the two, while the second suspect began to comply with police commands.
There were knives and other sharp objects within reach of the suspects, RCMP noted.
The two men, 38 and 40 years old and known to police, were taken into custody with one of them getting a brief stop at hospital to have a bite wound treated. Their names were not released Monday because charges had not yet been approved.
“To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever outrun a police service dog” Cpl. Craig Douglass said. “If you choose to run, they will catch you.
“If ever you find yourself in this position, please comply with officer commands.”
CWG opening ceremonies to feature local talent
Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff
The Canada Winter Games opening ceremonies will have some national performers that are known in northern B.C. and will also feature some local acts worthy of national attention.
“I can’t wait for the Canada Winter Games,” said Jeremy Pahl, one of the members of local band Black Spruce Bog.
“That’s going to be a great time for us.”
They are one of those sparks of local culture that will snap and sizzle at the big kickoff event on Feb. 13.
Organizers announced on Monday that more than 180 performers will play some kind of role in the opening event at CN Centre, but they only disclosed a few names so that the overall effects were reserved for the surprise and delight of the live audience.
“Athletes from over 800 communities across Canada will journey to our region in 25 days for the 25 th edition of the Canada Games, and we are so proud to kick off the 2015 Games with this professional production,” said 2015 Canada Winter Games CEO Stuart Ballantyne.
— see EVENT, page 3
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