P.E.I. man sentenced to nearly 6 years for 'reprehensible' offences including making child pornography
Jonathan Anthony Jeffery's crimes involved 13 victims, court hears
A Prince Edward Island man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for charges including making and transmitting child pornography.
Loud sobbing could be heard in the Summerside provincial courtroom Friday as Jonathan Anthony Jeffery, 35, received the sentence of five years and nine months.
He had pleaded guilty to all the charges against him, including voyeurism, intercepting private communications and unsafe storage of a firearm.
East Prince RCMP launched an investigation after receiving a complaint about voyeurism in 2023. Jeffery was arrested and charged back in February, but was not in custody prior to his sentencing.
Court heard Friday that the crimes involved 12 victims under the age of 18 and a 13th who was an adult.
There is a ban in place that prevents the publication of any information that could identify them.
Crown attorney John Diamond said Jeffery used sophisticated camera equipment that he could control remotely in order to film his victims. Diamond said the offences took place at three different homes between 2021 and 2023, and police found thousands of videos on his phone and on a cloud-based storage system he used.
Jeffery had earlier claimed he installed the cameras because he thought his partner at the time was cheating on him, and he wanted proof.
Acts called 'disturbing' and 'reprehensible'
The defence sought a sentence of less than five years, saying Jeffery was struggling with addictions and mental health issues due to the end of his relationship.
The Crown asked for a sentence of between eight and 10 years in prison for the offences, which Diamond called "disturbing."
But provincial court Judge Krista MacKay said that sentence would be too harsh, given that Jeffery had no criminal record, pleaded guilty, and wrote a letter of remorse.
It isn't too hard to imagine how this would affect the mental health of a person for a long time.— Judge Krista MacKay
MacKay did call Jeffery's actions "reprehensible," adding: "It isn't too hard to imagine how this would affect the mental health of a person for a long time... and each time they enter a bathroom in the future."
The Criminal Code of Canada sets the maximum sentence for making or transmitting child pornography at 14 years in prison. The minimum is one year.
As well as doing prison time, Jeffery was ordered to supply a sample for the National DNA Data Bank. Additionally, he can't be anywhere near his victims after he gets out, and he can't own or handle weapons for 10 years.
With files from Wayne Thibodeau