timothy jared steeves

Cape Traverse man possessed thousands of materials involving infants and toddlers

A Cape Traverse man was sentenced to one year in provincial jail for accessing, possessing and distributing pornographic materials involving infants and toddlers.

Timothy Jared Steeves, 36, wept silently at the defence table as Supreme Court Justice Wayne Cheverie imposed one of P.E.I.'s first mandatory minimum jail sentences for distributing child pornography.

Before sentencing, Cheverie was required to view a sampling of the materials seized from Steeves' home in 2011. His own voice appearing to choke with emotion, the judge said he couldn't find words to describe the disturbing nature of the images.

"It's so difficult to comprehend the harm that has been imposed on the children in the videos I witnessed this morning," said Cheverie.

"I'm certainly not capable of properly expressing that sentiment."

Steeves was not involved in production or sale of the videos and images, but he did share them online, mostly through YouTube.

In March 2011, police seized more than 900 videos and 40,634 images of child pornography from his residence in Cape Traverse.

Steeves will be on probation for three years following his release, and is required to register as a sex offender for life.