William (Bill) Kreibom outside the Nanaimo court house after he plead guilty to possessing child porn on Feb. 11, 2020. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

jail time

Jail sentence for Nanaimo man caught with large child porn collection

Aug 18, 2020 | 5:43 PM

NANAIMO — A provincial court judge called the actions of a Nanaimo man repulsive before sentencing him to 10 months behind bars.

Willliam Herbert Erich Kreibom learned his punishment on Tuesday, Aug. 18 after pleading guilty to a child porn possession charge involving 8,300 images and videos, including young girls being sexually abused.

The vast collection found on multiple devices during a March, 2019 raid by Nanaimo RCMP at his home was described by Judge Karen Whonnock as “extremely aggravating.”

The 63-year-old man with no prior criminal history was also handed 18-months probation with numerous conditions. He also falls under the federal government’s Sex Offender Information Registration Act for 20-years upon his release.

The 20-year order includes not attending any public park, school or community centre where somebody under 16 could reasonably be present.

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Kreibom was also handed restricted internet use under the act, which includes a ban from “any social media” during the order.

Judge Whonnock said the victims estimated to be as young as two and three-years-old were re-victimized by Kreibom, who fuelled demand by accessing the illegal and damaging material.

“Mr. Kreibom’s explanation in his police statement on March 12, 2019 that images of child pornography pop up when he looked for regularly pornography lacks credibility in my eyes,” judge Whonnock said during her hour-long decision.

In a sworn statement to police Kreibom couldn’t explain why he saved the illegal material on his computer, cell phone and data devices.

During sentencing arguments Crown prosecutor Brett Webber said the sentencing range for similar offences and circumstances is between six and 15 months in jail.

A charge against Kreibom of distributing child porn was dropped by the Crown.

The Crown had requested one year in jail for Kreibom, while defence lawyer Brian Sutton countered with six months behind bars.

A visibly distraught Kreibom was hand-cuffed and led away by sheriffs following sentencing.

Judge Whonnock recommended Kreibom serve his jail time at Ford Mountain Correctional Centre in the Fraser Valley.

Kreibom earlier informed court he intends to move to Alberta to live with his supportive daughter after his jail term.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes