20,000 child porn images, videos found on computers of ex-city councillor: Crown

SAINT JOHN, N.B. – The Crown says more than 20,000 images and videos of child pornography were found on computers belonging to a former city councillor in Saint John, N.B., who has pleaded guilty to nearly four dozen charges.

The sentencing hearing of Donnie Snook got underway today in provincial court, where the Crown made sentencing arguments against the 41-year-old man.

Snook pleaded guilty in May to 46 charges including sexual assault and possessing, distributing and making child pornography.

Crown lawyer Karen Lee Lamrock says investigators seized Snook’s computers and found 14,457 images and another 620 videos of child pornography.

Snook was arrested in January by the RCMP after an investigation that began in 2011 involving the Saint John and Toronto police.

The RCMP say the crimes began in January 2001 and 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.

Snook was elected to city council in 2008 and was involved in community organizations including the Inner City Youth Ministry, which provides sports programs, mentoring and lunches at three schools.

Neither the Crown nor defence have said what sentences they are seeking.