Quebec judge grants bail to five of 14 men accused in child porn case

MONTREAL – Five of 14 men accused in an alleged juvenile pornography ring in Quebec were set to be released from jail Thursday after being given strict bail conditions pending their trial.

Didier Chetelat, 27, David Boucher, 31, Patrick Charbonneau, 36, Dave Turcotte, 36, and Richard Levesque, 57, were told by Quebec court Judge Silvie Kovacevich to hand in their passports and electronic devices.

They are also prohibited from using the Internet, going to places frequented by children such as daycare and community centres and from communicating with one another.

Crown prosecutor Cynthia Gyenizse didn’t oppose their release because she said the five accused offered satisfactory guarantees they would abide by the court order.

Vincent Rodrigue, 39, renounced his bail hearing as he was already in jail for an unrelated criminal offence at the time of his arrest in connection with the alleged porn ring.

The other eight accused are scheduled for a bail hearing next Tuesday, with the Crown opposing their release.

The 14 face various charges, including possession and distribution of child pornography between 2003 and last month.

Police are still searching for a 15th suspect.