Former Scout leader, educational assistant sentenced to 4 years in prison on child pornography charges

A former Scout leader and educational assistant at an elementary school in Hamilton has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to the possession and making of child pornography.

Paul Goodman was sentenced on Wednesday in an Ontario Court of Justice courtroom.

"This is a difficult sentencing. Mr. Goodman is a 54-year-old man who abused a position of trust," Justice Stephen Brown said Wednesday morning.

Goodman is facing three years for possession of child pornography and one year for making it, minus the two days he's already served in custody.

He was initially also charged with making child pornography available.

Hamilton police said in April 2022 they started investigating after getting a tip from the National Child Exploitation Crime Centre. A search warrant was executed earlier that year and police say they found evidence of child pornography on computer devices.

Goodman had been a volunteer with Scouts Canada since 2000, according to the organization.

Chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board Pat Daly said at the time the board was "shocked and deeply disturbed" by the charges.