Peterborough minor hockey volunteer sentenced on child porn offences

A prominent figure in Peterborough’s minor and junior hockey community was sentenced to 15 months in prison and three years of probation for possessing, making and distributing child porn.

But with time served in pre-trial custody, James Brunton was released on Tuesday.

Brunton, 65, pleaded guilty to three counts each of possessing and making child porn as well as one count of distributing child porn.

Two counts of possession and making child porn involved short video clips of eight male youths who were underage at the time (May 1, 2003 and Feb. 27, 2004), judge Peter Harris said Tuesday.

The videos were taken in a locker room/shower area while members of the Peterborough Bees Hockey team were undressing and showering. The players appear to be in their mid-to-late teens and were unaware they were being filmed.

The other counts of possessing, making and distributing child porn relate to a male youth who lives in the United States and was underage from Aug. 10, 2009, to Oct. 18, 2012.

Brunton and the youth communicated through a website that specializes in sexual and cannibalistic fantasies. Thirty of 87 photos were considered child porn as well as three videos. Brunton paid the youth $3,528.62 for the porn over three years.

During sentencing, Brunton stood up and apologized to his wife and family but not his victims.

The judge said the damage Brunton did is “unquantifiable.”

Read the judge’s sentencing decision below.

Judge's ruling

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