Ex-Deputy Minister Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Child Porn

Levin, 63, was deputy education minister in Ontario, Manitoba

The court has heard that Benjamin Levin used to frequent online chat rooms
where sexual activities were discussed. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

A man who once was deputy education minister in Ontario and Manitoba was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for three child-porn related offences. 

Benjamin Levin, 63, was handed a sentence of six months for possession of child porn, 12 months for making child porn and 18 months for counselling to commit child sex abuse. 

In her decision, a Toronto provincial court judge said Levin, a father of three, "appeared to have it all" but had a "hidden dark side."

The "appeared to have it all" comment refers to Levin's excellent career in teaching, writing, and in two provincial governments as Deputy Minister of Education. His own education, if anything, left him over-qualified to be a Deputy Minister. What a waste!

But she says he has a low risk of reoffending and appears "genuinely remorseful."

The court heard throughout his trial that Levin used to frequent an online website with numerous forums for the discussion of sexual activities with children. 

Among the people he chatted with were an undercover officer in Toronto, one in London, Ont., and one in New Zealand — all posing as women interested in sexual activities with children.

The judge also ruled that, for five years, Levin can't go to public parks, pools, daycares and schools unless he's supervised by someone who knows of his conviction. His use of internet will be limited and he cannot work with children under 16 again. 

He was ordered to provide a sample of his DNA for the sex offender registry and will be registered for life. 

Levin was arrested in July 2013 when a search warrant was executed at his home. He was a university professor in Toronto at the time.

His lawyer had sought a sentence of two years in a penitentiary, while the Crown sought up to three years and eight months behind bars.

In March, Cheryl Gallant, a member of the Canadian Parliament, suggested that Levin might have been involved in the formation of Ontario's very controversial new sex education program.