THUNDER BAY — A Neebing area man found with more than 100 digital images consistent with child pornography on his phone will spend nearly two years in custody.
Alden Akis, 25, appeared before Justice Elaine Burton in a Thunder Bay courtroom on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
According to an agreed statement of facts, in December 2020 investigators with the Thunder Bay Police Service cybercrime unit became aware of an internet user uploading possible child pornography material to a Dropbox account.
Investigators obtained the IP address of the user that was connected to a residence on Cloud Lake Road. A search warrant was executed on the residence and several electronic devices belonging to Akis were seized.
The investigation found 107 images and three videos consistent with child pornography. Akis was charged by the Thunder Bay Police Service on Dec. 17, 2020 with possession of child pornography.
As part of a joint submission presented to Burton on Wednesday, Akis was sentenced to 22 months in custody, less eight days of pre-sentence custody.
Following his release from custody, Akis will be subject to three years of probation where he will be required to attend counselling and rehabilitative programming.
Akis is also required to submit a DNA sample and will be listed on the Sex Offender Registry for 20 years. He is also not to have any contact with anyone under the age of 16 unless accompanied by an adult aware of his conviction. Akis will also have restrictions on his use of the internet.
When given the opportunity to speak, Akis thanked the court and his family for their patience with him.
“I understand what I have done is not a victimless crime,” he said. “I realize every piece of material I possessed will affect someone negatively in their life.”
“You are quite right, this is not a victimless crime,” Burton said. “These are real people, real kids.”
Burton added that the trauma for victims can be endless and they are revictimized every time the images are saved and shared.
It was also pointed out by Burton that it was not just the images found in Akis’ possession, but the context of his online activity as well.
“Jail is necessary to denounce what you did and deter you and others from doing it as well,” she said.
