A warning that this story contains disturbing details.
A Creston man who admitted to possessing over 2,000 images and 300 videos of child pornography has been sentenced to 900 days in jail.
Jesse Stephen-David Wood pleaded guilty to transmitting and possession of child pornography between Jan. 30, 2023 and Jan. 30, 2024.
In accepting a joint submission from the Crown and defence, provincial court judge Tyleen Underwood gave Wood 900 days on the transmission charge and 720 days on the possession charge, to be served concurrently. Underwood also credited Wood with 287 days already spent in custody at a rate of time and a half. That means he has another 469 days left on his sentence, the equivalent of a little over 15 months.
Wood was also sentenced to three years probation with extensive conditions, including not going near playgrounds, and not being in a relationship with anyone with kids under 16.
After his release, he will also be prohibited for 10 years from working in any position of trust or authority over anyone under 16, or communicating with anyone under 16, with a few exceptions. His access to the internet will also be severely restricted. He will further have to provide a DNA sample and be added to the sex offender registry for 20 years.
In sentencing today, Underwood said Wood was found with two cell phones on March 28, 2024 that contained images of sexual exploitation and assault involving children between the ages of less than one year and 10 years.
There were also multiple chat messages between Wood and people who identified themselves as youth, and messages between Wood and the parents of young children, from whom he requested nude pictures and communicated what he would do sexually to their children.
Underwood considered the number of images, the acts depicted, and the ages of those depicted to be aggravating factors.
As a mitigating factor, she cited Wood’s difficult upbringing. He was placed in foster care at the age of two due to domestic violence between his mother and stepfather, including violence directed at him. He was adopted at five by a single mother, but described his upbringing as “complete hell” and said his mother used humiliation as punishments and did not allow him to have friends or socialize.
According to Underwood’s judgement, Wood had significant behaviourial issues. He was bullied at school, and as an adult he moved frequently and had difficulty holding jobs for more than a few months. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety. He also has a history of substance abuse.
At the time of the offences, he had been living in Creston for three years. He had no prior criminal record and he entered an early guilty plea. However, he skipped a court appearance in October 2024. He was soon arrested in Kelowna. After being released, he missed another court date in November. He was arrested in Calgary five months later and his bail was subsequently denied, although that was not mentioned during sentencing.
Underwood said Wood, 45, has shown a “limited understanding” of how his behaviour has harmed children and has demonstrated a willingness to take treatment.
Wood appeared for his sentencing today by video link from jail, nodding occasionally, and replying “Yes” when asked if he understood the terms that he would have to abide by.
Wood originally faced three other counts related to child pornography, but the Crown entered a stay of proceedings at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing.
