A dated photo of Keith Minard Gates. The repeated sex offender pleaded guilty in February 2025 and was later jailed for child exploitation offences. (submitted photo)

By Ian Holmes

repeat offender

Nanaimo man reoffends two weeks after release for child sexual abuse possession bust

Nov 5, 2025 | 5:25 AM

Editors note: This article mentions sexual violence against young children, which may not be appropriate for some readers. Discretion is advised.

NANAIMO — Newly freed after possessing child sexual abuse material, a local sex offender again quickly perpetuated unspeakable harms against vulnerable children.

A two-and-a-half-year jail sentence applied to Keith Minard Gates after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to a pair of charges: distributing and possessing child sexual abuse/exploitation material.

Gates, 50, was sentenced on Friday, Oct. 31 at provincial court in Nanaimo after a judge accepted a jointly submitted sentencing recommendation for the local man who court heard has significant issues.

A psychologist stated methamphetamine use is linked to Gates’ offending. (submitted photo)

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He distributed a pair of illegal images through Facebook Messenger, while he also possessed nearly 660 others on several devices seized from his home, reflecting material amassed between Aug. 15, 2021 and February 2023.

On probation at the time with numerous conditions applied to sex offenders, Gates was freed on July 31, 2023 after being issued a 10-month jail sentence in March 2021.

“Very shortly after statutorily released from jail he came to possess the same materials that he had recently been sentenced for,” Crown counsel’s Suzanne Cassell told court.

Materials in the most recent offending included young toddlers, some only about 18-months old, being graphically sexually abused by men.

“In this case, we are talking about extreme levels of sexual violence,” Cassell told court as Gates stared down in his lap while the disturbing facts were outlined.

Meta and Google both intercepted illegal materials, while Nanaimo RCMP was also aided by United States-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in building its case against Gates.

Cassell said the most aggravating features of Gates’ conduct were how fast he re-offended, the volume and extreme violent nature of the illegal material, and the extended length of possession which was only halted due to police intervention.

Cassell credited Gates for demonstrating insight into his offending and pleading guilty.

A psychological assessment clearly outlined a connection between Gates using illicit substances, most notably methamphetamine, and viewing the abhorrent material.

Gates’ addiction concerns pushed his re-offending risk to as high as moderate, in the view of a court-ordered psychologist.

Defence counsel Jeinis Patel stated reports authored for the court illustrated how Gates gets lost in his own head while using substances and goes into “very dark places.”

Patel said Gates clearly needs ongoing supports to address his substance misuse and desire to seek out child exploitation materials.

“It’s a bit of loneliness, a lot of drugs I would say. That seems to be the admitted trigger,” Patel said, who noted illicit drug use destroyed multiple intimate relationships Gates had.

Patel believes the post-release plan for Gates, a father of two, is to reside alone in Nanaimo.

The defence attorney said Gates has an employment history in the trades sector.

Prior to be escorted by sheriffs to jail, the offender provided a brief unscripted statement to the court.

“I am sorry. This has affected not just me, but my entire family, it has also affected victims, and I really am not good with that. I’ve never touched my children in any sexual way; I don’t consider myself a pedophile,” Gates said.

According to Gates, he’s nearing three months of a drug-free lifestyle.

“I want to apologize, I want to apologize, I feel horrible, I feel horrible, I really do. Not only once but twice…I intend for it to never be an issue again.”

Upon Gates’ release, seven years of stringent restrictive conditions specifically for sex offenders will apply, including internet restrictions, staying away from public recreational facilities where minors could be present, not contacting minors, as well as employment conditions.

He was ordered to provide a DNA sample, while he’ll appear on the National Sex Offender Registry for life, expanding on a previously applied 20-year order.

The registry is a police-only accessible database, offering law enforcement enhanced tools to more closely track Gates’ movements.

His offence-related devices were also permanently confiscated

Judge Chris Churchill sternly warned Gates to accept the help he needs.

“If you ever came before the court again with such an offence Mr. Gates, while it would be very unfortunate for the community of course, you would be facing quite a significant federal sentence I would suspect.”

Gates did not benefit from pre-trial credit to reduce his federal prison sentence.

He’ll serve his time at a facility determined by Correctional Service Canada.

Keith Gates runs from from the Nanaimo courthouse after pleading guilty to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse/exploitation charges on Feb. 12, 2025 (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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