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Delon Shurtz
Southern Alberta Newspapers
A 24-year-old Blood Tribe man has been sent to prison for accessing and distributing images and videos of child pornography.
Cody George Wright pleaded guilty in March to two counts of transmitting and making available child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography, and one count each of accessing child pornography and breaching release conditions. He was sentenced Friday in Lethbridge provincial court to four years and nine months in a federal penitentiary, minus 10 months he spent in pre-disposition custody.
Following a joint investigation between ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit, Blood Tribe Police and Lethbridge police, arrested Wright at a home on the Blood Reserve Nov. 8 of last year. ICE also searched a Lethbridge home with the assistance of Lethbridge police, and a number of electronic devices were seized for a forensic analysis.
Court was told Friday that Wright had more than 16,000 images of child pornography and nearly 900 videos. Children shown in some of the images and videos ranged in age from newborn to young teenager.
Defence lawyer Robin McIntyre told court her client is a victim of “generational trauma” stemming from the abuse his grandparents endured in residential schools. But he doesn’t deny the offences and is taking responsibility for his actions.
“He’s disgusted with himself,” McIntyre said.
She said Wright, 25, suffers from substance abuse and various disorders, and he’s attempted suicide several times, but he wants to take counselling and hopes he can be rehabilitated while he’s in prison.
Wright, who the Crown said is a moderate risk to re-offend, must submit a sample of his DNA for the National DNA Databank. He is prohibited for 10 years from going to parks, swimming pools, daycares, schoolgrounds or community centres where anyone under the age of 16 is likely to attend, unless he is with an adult who is aware of his conviction.
He is also prohibited from working or volunteering in any capacity that involves being in a position of authority over anyone under 16 years of age, and from using a computer unless for work or school.
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