Six-year sentence handed down in 2016 child pornography case

WARNING: Some of the facts in this story may be disturbing to readers.

Today a, 40-year-old Meadow Lake man was sentenced to six years in prison for child pornography-related case from 2016.

In April 2016, Troy Tourand who was 37 at the time, was arrested for multiple counts of eight different charges including sexual exploitation of a person with a disability, sexual exploitation of a young person, and possession of child pornography.

According to an agreed statement of facts from both the Crown and defence, the incidents occurred between March 1 and April 9, 2016, and involved four young female victims. Two of the girls were 14-years-old at the time. The other two victims were aged 15 and 17 at the time. The young people were frequenting the man’s house during the time, drinking and partying. Tourand asked for nude pictures in exchange for money, asked for and engaged in sexual acts, and sent sexual photographs to the girls according to the statement of facts.

Tourand pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of child pornography, one count of an invitation for sexual touching, one count of making sexually explicit material available to a young person, two counts of sexual touching of a young person, and one count of sexual touching of a young person while being a person in a position of trust and authority. Crown prosecutor Andrew Clements and defence Lori Johnstone-Clarke prepared a joint sentencing submission to Justice Gerald Allbright. While Allbright and Johnstone-Clarke were in Battlefords Court of Queen’s Bench, Clements was in Meadow Lake and the proceedings took place by CCTV.

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Allbright sentenced Tourand to a six-year jail sentence. He also must remain on the registered sexual offenders list for life and cannot be in the presence of anyone under the age of 16 years other than his own children.

After both sides presented their submissions and case law supporting the suggested sentence, Tourand was invited to speak. He said he knew what he did was wrong.

“If I could go back in time and punch myself out, I would,” he said.

Allbright said he recognized both the mitigating and aggravating factors in the case. The mitigating factors included Tourand’s alcohol abuse and mental health issues, the fact he pleaded guilty and has complied to legal proceedings, and the fact he would be receptive to counselling. The aggrevating factors in the case included the number of youths who were part of the charges, and the serious nature of the offences.

Johnstone-Clarke asked the judge to recommend Tourand, who is of Métis descent, fulfill his sentence in a healing lodge. Allbright said he would make the suggestion, but it is ultimately up to Corrections Canada to make the final decision.

“Your willingness to stand up, dealing with this and facing it bodes well for you,” Allbright said. “These are serious offence, and I have no doubt they’ve affected these young ladies in a major way. I also appreciate we did not have to have a trial.”

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