Delta Optimist January 2 2015

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Pepe helps out

3

Autism support dog has big impact on family

Flu concerns

OWL takes precautions as avian flu virus spreads

6

Artists in the Village New society aims to keep art alive

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Plea changed in child porn case

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Kudos for climber

WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

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Surveying the scene!

Former Delta school district psychologist to be sentenced in U.S. court next month BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

A former Delta school district psychologist charged with possessing child pornography will be sentenced in February. William Brook, a Point Roberts resident, was charged earlier this year with possessing hundreds of images and videos of child porn, including scenes of children being sexually assaulted. On bail under several conditions, including not being able to cross the border or having any contact with anyone under 18, Brook changed his plea to guilty in Federal District Court in Seattle last month. His sentencing is set for Feb. 27. Brook is alleged to have downloaded the pornographic material at his Point Roberts home. In May of this year, acting on a tip, U.S. Homeland Security stopped Brook as he attempted to cross the border into Point Roberts from Tsawwassen. Officers seized the Delta school district-issued laptop he had in his possession, but no illegal images were found on that computer. According to the federal charges, Brook allegedly admitted to exchanging photos of “kids” on chat sites and told investigators he could have such photos on his home computer. In a subsequent search of his home, investigators found 334 files believed to be child pornography on his own laptop as well as a four-gigabyte thumb drive filled with additional

videos. A Homeland Security agent told the court Brook also opened an online profile he’d created in which he declared his “love” for “pre-teen/pubescent boys and young teens” no older than 14. Agents also claim Brook had downloaded child pornography the day before his arrest. Delta police launched an investigation to see if there might have been any wrongdoing by Brook on this side of the border. Sgt. Sarah Swallow said there is no evidence that he committed any crime here. At the time of his arrest, the Delta school district confirmed Brook was an employee, but would not say which schools he worked at or the ages of the students he assessed. In a separate case three years ago, former municipal planning director Kip Gaudry was sentenced in Surrey provincial court to 18 months in jail for possession of child pornography. The judge in that case said he had to consider the former Delta bureaucrat’s prior record and the level of depravity of the images. Delta police had raided both his home and office at municipal hall, seizing computers and flash drives. He was later charged and convicted with indecent assault on a youth in a separate case. Brook was charged with possessing child porn, but hasn’t been charged with producing it, nor attempting to lure or having engaged in physical sexual abuse.

This heron found a perch recently atop a sign near the Boundary Bay dike.

PHOTO BY

GORD GOBLE

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