Former Athabasca youth worker Jason Andrew Keough was found guilty Monday on two counts of possessing child pornography, one count of voyeurism and one count of making voyeuristic material.
However, Keough, 36, was acquitted on two charges of making child pornography and one charge of sexual touching.
Edmonton Court of Queen’s Bench Judge Donald Manderschied handed down the verdict Monday afternoon following a lengthy trial that concluded in December.
During the trial, three male Crown witnesses each testified that Keough provided them with equipment to videotape themselves masturbating or having sex with their girlfriends. Videotapes depicting the acts were among those seized from Keough’s Athabasca home during an RCMP search in 2008.
In a 70-page written decision, Manderschied ruled that while there is a legal exemption that allows teens to make videos of themselves for personal use, Keough’s possession of the tapes rendered them as child pornography.
Manderschied also ruled that one of the videos, in which Keough is seen positioning a video camera and covering it with clothing, was tantamount to voyeurism and making voyeuristic material.
However, because Keough only possessed copies of the seized tapes, Manderschied acquitted him of actually making child pornography.
Manderschied also acquitted Keough on a sexual touching charge, based on a 2008 allegation by a 19-year-old man, because he doubted the complainant’s testimony.
The charges against Keough were all based on incidents alleged to have occurred between 2005 and 2008, during which time Keough worked at the Athabasca Native Friendship Centre, Edwin Parr Composite School, and later Alberta Children and Youth Services’ Athabasca office.
Keough, who is free on bail, will return to court Feb. 4 to set a date for his sentencing. Crown prosecutor Diane Hollinshead told the court Monday she would be seeking ‘substantial’ jail time.
