Alliston Herald

Today's Weather

Light rain and 3°C

>>more weather info

Bill Sandford photo Innisfil Journal

Former teacher David Carswell was found guilty of possession of child porn. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 4.

Judge finds teacher guilty of surfing porn

June 10, 2009 09:06

David Carswell said he began viewing child pornography on his home
computer because he was trying to find a young student who he feared was
being sexually exploited.

His cyber sleuthing, he told the court, involved looking at "seamy, bottom
of the belly," images of children in various stages of undress – in an
effort to locate images of a boy, age 10 or 11, who he feared was being
groomed to pose for child porn.

Carswell, a teacher for 29 years, said he was looking after the rights and
safety of children, and reacted as any concerned parent would.

But it was clear Justice Nancy Dawson did not buy it. Carswell was found
guilty yesterday.

The "whole scenario is ludicrous," Dawson wrote in a 112-page judgment
released yesterday, which found the 55-year-old guilty of possessing child
pornography.

"Looking for (the student) in child pornography sites would be like looking
for a needle in a haystack. It is nonsense," wrote Dawson, adding if
Carswell was so concerned, he should have contacted police.

"Carswell in 2002 saw an image he thought was (the student) and this seemed
to fuel his access pattern and using his credit card. ... If he was so
concerned about children, he had other steps he could take and was aware of
this."

The former teacher will return for sentencing to a Bradford court on Sept.
4. He faces up to two years in a provincial jail.

After sentencing, the Ontario College of Teachers will begin an internal
investigation.

Carswell's lawyer, David Wilcox, later said his client believed he was given
a fair trial, but was disappointed by the ruling.

Wilcox said he would wait to read the judgment before deciding whether to
appeal the decision.

Carswell, arrested in July 2005, testified he didn't know how hundreds of
child porn pictures ended up on his computer, though he had viewed many
images on it.

During the trial, Wilcox said his client had been "surfing dangerous
websites," but he had not intentionally downloaded the images.

-Torstar News Files

More Innisfil Journal Articles

Friends cycle to fight cancer
The women will hop on bicycles on June 12 and June 13 for a 200-kilometre sprint from Toronto to Niagara Falls

Mayor's assault case pushed to April
BRADFORD — Jackson's next court date may reveal more about criminal charges

Lawyer sentenced 22 months for fraud
BARRIE — Myles McLellan was convicted in October 2009 for a false mortgage scheme valued at $160,000.00

McGuinty helped developers profit, NDP claims
QUEEN'S PARK — Innisfil landowners met premier in May 2008 at $5,000 per plate fundraiser

From the streets to the canvas
BARRIE - Janet Jones brings her exhibition, DaDa Delirium, to the MacLaren Art Centre through May 23.

Carnival comes to town
BARRIE - The Music Arsenal brings its fun-filled children’s show, Carnival of the Animals, to the Gryphon Theatre on March 13.

Club puts on its dancing shoes
BARRIE - Since 1989 the Barrie Ballroom Dance Club has been waltzing, tangoing and chachacha-ing its way to a good time.

Hansen plays at St. Andrew’s
BARRIE - Organist Richard Hansen will be the guest organist at the March Music at St. Andrew’s Concert.

Cingolani welcomes stage and film veterans
BARRIE - The Cingolani Academy of Music and Performing Arts has added three stage and film veterans to its faculty team.

REVIEW: Alice in Wonderland
BARRIE - Tim Burton takes us back down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland.

SIMCOE.COM is an online publication serving the communities of Barrie, Alliston, Collingwood/Wasaga Beach, Wasaga, Stayner and Orillia in central Ontario, Canada. All rights reserved. Reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission or republication of any material from simcoe.com is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from Metroland Media Group Ltd.