‘I want help:’ Kelowna man opens about desire for child sex abuse material

In a case where rehabilitation took precedence over punishment, a BC Supreme Court judge has sentenced a 40-year-old Kelowna man — who openly admitted he had an issue with accessing child sex abuse and exploitation material — to three years of supervision.

BC Supreme Court Justice Gary Weatherill said Derek Keegan had been haunted by his use of child sex abuse and exploitation material, which stemmed from being sexually abused as a child.

“He admits feeling there is something wrong with his brain that leads to his deviant behaviour,” Justice Weatherill told a Kelowna courtroom, May 28. “He also admits that without support and rehabilitation, he is at a high risk of reoffending and that he currently cannot be trusted.”

Keegan’s case is unusual in that he was very candid about the behaviour that led to him being in court.

In 2023, the RCMP were alerted to Keegan’s internet address and after several child sex abuse and exploitation material images were uploaded to his cell phone.

A search warrant later found a further 700 images of child sex abuse and exploitation material, which has been previously referred to as child pornography. 

Keegan was still on probation after being jailed for 12 months for possession of child sex abuse and exploitation material, and wasn’t supposed to have access to the internet.

While a second offence for the same crime would ordinarily garner a harsher sentence than the first time around, Crown prosecutor Juan O’Quinn argued against jail time, saying the focus had to be on rehabilitation.

The Crown prosecutor said that very little effort was put into rehabilitation during his first stint in jail.

“So what we’re trying to do now is not have this happen again,” O’Quinn said. “He hasn’t been treated. And that’s probably why he’s back there.”

In 2020, Keegan was jailed for accessing child sex abuse and exploitation material. 

In a highly unusual move, Keegan had gone to the police a year earlier to turn himself in, but instead was taken for psychiatric treatment.

The court heard Keegan had been diagnosed with bipolar and cannabis use disorder, along with pedophilic disorder.

Defence lawyer Dominique Verdurmen described Keegan’s childhood as “tragically tumultuous and unstable.”

His parents had struggled with substance use, and he’d been exposed to violence. He moved from Ontario to BC after his mother stabbed his father. He lived with his dad’s new partner and her children but was then sexually abused by his stepbrother from age seven to 14.

At 14 years old, he ran away from home. At 17, he was living in a youth home.

“Mr. Keegan himself indicated that he believes that (his) sexual preferences are linked to the childhood experiences of sexual violence,” Verdurmen said.

A psychologist’s report found his historical childhood sexual abuse likely disinhibits his behaviour and decreases the perceived consequences of his actions.

The court heard that Keegan was very candid about his issues and open about getting treatment. He described himself as a “sexual predator” and said that was why he was not comfortable pursuing a romantic relationship.

Over the years, Keegan had worked in fast-food restaurants and was currently holding down a dishwasher job.

Much weight was put on the fact that Keegan understood he needed counselling and treatment and was a willing participant.

The court heard he was doing OK when living in a supportive housing unit, but had moved to his own apartment and become isolated when the offending took place.

He was now back living in supportive housing and had a mentor who was a retired RCMP officer.

“I recognize where my weaknesses are. I know my habits,” Keegan told the court. “I want help.”

In a joint submission to the court, Crown and defence lawyers put forward a joint submission of six months’ house arrest, followed by a curfew, and monitoring for three years. He’s also barred from using the internet.

Justice Weatherill accepted it, saying that rehabilitation should be put ahead of denunciation.

“I am impressed that despite the ugliness of Mr. Keegan’s offences, his offence history, and the need for denunciation and deterrence, he has taken full responsibility for what he has done,” the Justice said.

“He is clearly remorseful, he admits and recognizes that he has some mental health and psychological issues that need to be addressed and he is prepared to do whatever it takes, including counselling and psychiatric treatments and any other meaningful steps to try and turn his life around.”