Bishop in child-porn case sentenced to 15 months in jail, two years probation
Posted January 4, 2012 5:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – Disgraced former Catholic bishop Raymond Lahey has been sentenced to 15 months in jail and two years probation.
Lahey was caught at Ottawa Airport with hundreds of pornographic photos of young boys, in 2009.
Because Ontario Court Justice Kent Kirkland gave Lahey double credit for the eight months he has served since last spring, the cleric has essentially finished his jail sentence and will be released on probation.
Crown Attorney David Elhadad said this is an appropriate sentence that drives home the seriousness of the crime.
Lahey still faces two years of probation with some very strict terms and defence lawyer Michael Edelson said it will affect him the rest of his life.
“The sentencing’s in virtually every one of these cases essentially marks a person for life, especially with all the auxiliary orders and as a result you become a social pariah.”
Lahey will now have to submit a DNA sample for the sex offenders registry. His name will remain on the list for 20 years.
