A St. John's man caught with child pornography on his computer has been ordered to stay away from children for the rest of his life.
Joseph Frederick McGrath was sentenced to four years and two months in jail Wednesday in provincial court in St. John's.
The 35-year-old - who has been in custody since May 22, 2008 - was given double credit for the time he's already been behind bars, leaving one year left on his prison term.
As part of the sentence, Judge Greg Brown also ruled McGrath will be subject to a long-term offenders order (LTO) for the next 10 years, which means he will be closely monitored by Corrections Canada.
"There's a great deal of protection for the community built into the supervision order," McGrath's lawyer, Peter Ralph, told reporters outside court.
"I think people can feel comforted by the fact that the supervision order is quite comprehensive."
The LTO includes three conditions that strictly prohibit McGrath from being around kids.
He must stay away from any public area - including parks, public swimming areas, daycare centres, schools, playgrounds and community centres - where children under the age of 16 are present.
He's prohibited from getting a job or doing any volunteer work which involves being in a position of trust or authority over youth under 16.
He's also not allowed to use a computer to communicate with anyone under 16.
In fact, whether he even has access to a computer will be up to Corrections Canada representatives.
LTO designations are made when someone is thought likely to reoffend - usually sexual offenders.
After McGrath is released from prison, a parole board will determine where he will live and how the supervisory arrangements will work. He was found guilty Aug. 3 of accessing and possessing child porn and breaching a long-term supervision order.
He was arrested May 22, 2008, four months after a Stella Burry employee - acting on behalf of Corrections Canada and hired to do regular checks on McGrath at his Military Road apartment - discovered McGrath had been searching child-porn websites.
That discovery led to a police investigation, during which officers also found the sites during two checks of McGrath's computer.
McGrath had accessed the porn between Jan. 1 and Jan. 26, 2008.
It was the fifth time he'd violated the conditions of his release since he was deemed a long-term offender April 3, 2003.
He was previously convicted of several sex-related and weapons offences and of disobeying court orders.
In court Wednesday, McGrath seemed more settled than in previous appearances, when he was agitated, disruptive and unruly.
His lawyer said McGrath has been properly diagnosed and medicated for his bipolar and social disorders and is confident he can change his behaviour.
The judge's sentence was similar to the recommendation made by McGrath's lawyer and Crown prosecutor Lisa Stead, who had reached a resolution after months of negotiation.
"Mr. McGrath," the judge said in closing, "I sincerely hope that after this, we won't see you back in court."
rgillingham@thetelegram.com
More jail time, strict supervision
Joseph Frederick McGrath of St. John's, who was convicted on child pornography charges last summer, was sentenced Wednesday. The 35-year-old will spend another year in jail and will be supervised as a long-term offender for the next 10 years. - Photo by R
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Published on
December 24, 2009
- Published on July 1, 2010
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Rosie Gillingham
Man sentenced for child-porn conviction
A St. John's man caught with child pornography on his computer has been ordered to stay away from children for the rest of his life.
Joseph Frederick McGrath was sentenced to four years and two months in jail Wednesday in provincial court in St. John's.
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Comments
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- Gary
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:21
I Agree with Margaret. This useless piece of crap has had enough chances. He should never get the opportunity to re offend again.
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- Paul
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:03:38
For his sake, I hope medication does help him solve his problems and become a normal member of society. Otherwise, I agree with Margaret.
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- Margaret
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:00:07
This filthy rotten pervert should be either locked up in isolation for the rest of his life, or castrated.
He's living off the taxpayers regardless. Scum-bags, for lack of a more descriptive word, like this will eventually find a way to beat
protection laws and he'll find use of a computer and continue on with his deranged, deplorable activities.
How could he afford his own computer and internet fees in the first place?
He looks remorseful and concerned, doesn't he??? -
- Townie in Calif
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:14
You can give this guy medication 'til the cows come home and it will never help. It's an evil sickness and cannot be cured. Lock 'em up and throw away the key, unfortunately that won't ever happen. Just my humble opinion is all.
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- Sparkey
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:12
Its amazing that our goverment will spend money to keep this piece-of-crap in jail!,it has to be feed,clothed,& of course if it wants to get a Trade while in jail,tax payer will foot-that-bill too! Bring back The Death Pentley!,I would gladly throw the switch!,for free! It would cost taxpayers 0! & we would have 1 less Scum Of The World around!
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- Marc
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:53:54
oh boy, he got 2 years in jail, wooptie doo, he was watching children being sexually abused, very disturbing...I hope there is a God and he comes back and whoops butt
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- Margaret
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:50:36
Jimmy from Portugal Cove,
Do I sound like I love it ???
We are talking about
CHILD pornography. -
- DB
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:45:48
Do like the do overseas cut off the offending fingers then he can't view anything, as for Jimmy maybe the should check his computer.
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- Steve
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:43:57
two words summary execution
cue the bleeding hearts.... -
- Nimitz
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:43:33
Sorry but no amount of medication will make this guy a normal member of society. I could care less that he is bipolar and I don't care about what made him the way he is. The fact that he was given double credit for time served, has a history of sexually assaulting children and has repeatedly violated the terms of his probation sickens me. Anyone who defends this man in anyway (other than his lawyer) is just as bad in my book. Throw him away.
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- Graham
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:41:42
Amen Margaret I couldnt have said it better myself.
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- Jimmy
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:57
Oooh, I bet you love this Margaret. Quite a one for adjectives, aren't you, my dear. Don't fall off your high horse.
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- Truth
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:27
No one mentioned the t-shirt. A self-portrait??
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- Gary
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:53:33
I Agree with Margaret. This useless piece of crap has had enough chances. He should never get the opportunity to re offend again.
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- Paul
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:52:22
For his sake, I hope medication does help him solve his problems and become a normal member of society. Otherwise, I agree with Margaret.
-
- Margaret
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:47:44
This filthy rotten pervert should be either locked up in isolation for the rest of his life, or castrated.
He's living off the taxpayers regardless. Scum-bags, for lack of a more descriptive word, like this will eventually find a way to beat
protection laws and he'll find use of a computer and continue on with his deranged, deplorable activities.
How could he afford his own computer and internet fees in the first place?
He looks remorseful and concerned, doesn't he??? -
- Townie in Calif
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:09
You can give this guy medication 'til the cows come home and it will never help. It's an evil sickness and cannot be cured. Lock 'em up and throw away the key, unfortunately that won't ever happen. Just my humble opinion is all.
-
- Sparkey
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:06
Its amazing that our goverment will spend money to keep this piece-of-crap in jail!,it has to be feed,clothed,& of course if it wants to get a Trade while in jail,tax payer will foot-that-bill too! Bring back The Death Pentley!,I would gladly throw the switch!,for free! It would cost taxpayers 0! & we would have 1 less Scum Of The World around!
-
- Marc
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:39:07
oh boy, he got 2 years in jail, wooptie doo, he was watching children being sexually abused, very disturbing...I hope there is a God and he comes back and whoops butt
-
- Margaret
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:33:28
Jimmy from Portugal Cove,
Do I sound like I love it ???
We are talking about
CHILD pornography. -
- DB
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:25:31
Do like the do overseas cut off the offending fingers then he can't view anything, as for Jimmy maybe the should check his computer.
-
- Steve
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:22:31
two words summary execution
cue the bleeding hearts.... -
- Nimitz
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:21:46
Sorry but no amount of medication will make this guy a normal member of society. I could care less that he is bipolar and I don't care about what made him the way he is. The fact that he was given double credit for time served, has a history of sexually assaulting children and has repeatedly violated the terms of his probation sickens me. Anyone who defends this man in anyway (other than his lawyer) is just as bad in my book. Throw him away.
-
- Graham
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:18:24
Amen Margaret I couldnt have said it better myself.
-
- Jimmy
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:59
Oooh, I bet you love this Margaret. Quite a one for adjectives, aren't you, my dear. Don't fall off your high horse.
-
- Truth
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:14
No one mentioned the t-shirt. A self-portrait??
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