Douglas Ball, 20, will spend the next four months behind bars, followed by two years' probation after pleading guilty to charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

jail time

‘Graphic and violent nature:’ Qualicum Beach man sentenced for child porn possession

Jun 18, 2025 | 5:30 AM

Editor’s note: This article contains details of the sexual abuse of children, which may not be suitable for some readers. Discretion is strongly advised.

NANAIMO — A man will spend the next four months in jail, followed by two years of probation, after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography.

Douglas Ball, 20, was handed the sentence at provincial court in Nanaimo on Tuesday, June 17, after videos and images were found on his phone in 2023 depicting the sexual abuse of girls under the age of 10 by adult men.

Crown counsel’s Jordan Hauschildt said while only three images and two videos were discovered, their graphic and violent nature was a major aggravating factor.

“These videos…involve the penetrative sexual assault of young children. The age of the victims in some of these images and videos is very young.”

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Hauschildt said the videos depicted grown man graphically sexually abusing children estimated to be between four and eight-years-old.

While speaking on the joint sentencing proposal, Hauschildt said these were “extremely serious offences” occurring over 10 months, and requires time in jail.

“These are…incredibly vulnerable victims. They are powerless. The fact they are not known to us and have not provided victim impact statements doesn’t lessen the impact on these individuals. These are real victims who are sexually abused, and these people are re-victimized every time someone views or distributes one of these images.”

Incidents
Police first became aware of Ball in January of 2023, when they were alerted by the BC Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (BCICEU) that someone with the username ‘Doug Ball’ uploaded a video of child sexual abuse into a Dropbox account.

In August, the BCICEU again alerted the RCMP that someone with the username ‘Doug_6699’ uploaded a minute-long video of a man performing penetrative sexual assault on a girl between four and eight years old to the social media platform Snapchat.

Once authorities were able to connect Ball with the accounts, a search warrant were used on his Qualicum Beach home in October of 2023.

Police seized his phone and a tablet, finding three images and two videos on the phone, along with evidence in Ball’s phone search history of him looking for child sex abuse material.

Ball was originally charged with one count of possession of child pornography and two counts of importing/distributing child pornography.

He pleaded guilty early on in the court proceedings to possession and one count of importing/distributing child pornography, and had no prior criminal record.

Judgment
Ball has only a grade 10 education, is unemployed, and is a daily cannabis and cigarette user.

He was found not to have pedophilic disorder and was deemed a low risk to reoffend during the court-ordered psychological report.

Defence attorney Stephen Littley spoke about how the March 28, 2022 homicide of Ball’s half-brother Nick in Langley greatly affected him and put him in a “desperate state.”

The offender began viewing legal pornography but said it escalated to more and more “edgier” material until it eventually became illegal.

“He got a little curious and feels like it got out of hand. He was bored of the girls on the internet and what they looked like…we see this often in these cases. Normal pornography use, getting edgier and edgier with curiosity, going over to where we are now where illegal acts are taking place.”

Judge Karen Wonnock also acknowledged Ball appeared genuinely remorseful and ashamed of his actions and apologized to the court.

Wonnock said child pornography is one of the most serious and damaging crimes committed against society.

“Mr. Ball downloaded materials from a Dropbox, and he uploaded materials using Snapchat, and then he conducted web searches for more child pornography. In other words, the criminal offence for child pornography was conducted through multiple channels, through multiple dates…all of these victims are incredibly vulnerable.”

Ball briefly addressed the court prior to sentencing, and said he’s going to take steps to make sure “he never makes a mistake like that again.”

“Just the biggest mistake I could have ever possibly made…. my relationships have suffered in all forms and it’s highly regrettable. If I could do anything to change it, I would.”

Conditions of his probation include submitting DNA for police records, he’s unable go to any public places, work at, or have any contact with minors without prior approval or supervision from an adult familiar with his situation.

Ball must complete counselling programming and faces restricted internet usage.

Ball is also banned from public places where those under the age of 16 might be present for three years following his release.

Whonnock declined to include Ball on the police-only accessible National Sex Offender Registry due to his young age, remorsefulness, lack of criminal record and low number of child sex abuse images seized.

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