Donald Alan Huppe, 66, was sentenced to three months in jail for possessing child pornography. (NanaimoNewsNOW file photo)

By Ian Holmes

sex offender

Nanaimo grandfather jailed for child porn collection

Jun 11, 2021 | 6:56 AM

NANAIMO — Taking inappropriate pictures of his grandson’s girlfriend led to the discovery of more sinister actions by a 66-year-old man with no prior criminal record.

Donald Alan Huppe was sentenced on Thursday, June 10 to three months jail and three years probation at provincial court in Nanaimo. He pleaded guilty to one count of child porn possession earlier this year.

Crown prosecutor Nick Barber told court Huppe’s suspicious grandson and girlfriend took it upon themselves to search some of his devices, turning up pictures of the woman as she slept in 2018.

A large quantity of images and video was then discovered by the duo on Huppe’s phone and laptop.

Huppe came clean to Nanaimo Mounties about the material possessed, leading to a search warrant where multiple devices were seized.

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Barber said about 400 images and 68 videos of child porn belonging to Huppe were cataloged by police, including pre-pubescent girls being sexually abused by men.

Barber said Huppe initially indicated his collection did not arouse him, but rather he found the material artistic and interesting to view.

“Regardless of the motivations of Mr. Huppe this is not acceptable,” Barber said.

Huppe’s lawyer Chris Churchill said his client didn’t grasp why child porn was illegal, nor understand how it victimized young people when he began participating in group sessions with other sex offenders.

Churchill said Huppe was confronted by group members about his actions and mindset.

“This is a very challenging type of group therapy,” Churchill emphasized. “It’s quite direct in their confrontation, that’s part of the therapy. It’s no holds barred…that kind of uninformed, wrongful thinking is directly challenged over and over.”

Churchill said Huppe has regularly attended other therapy sessions held in several Vancouver Island communities during his ongoing rehabilitative journey.

He said Huppe remains accountable to his family by keeping them updated on his progress and receiving constant family support is instrumental in his recovery.

Judge Harvey said Huppe’s significant rehabilitative steps kept the jail sentence from being longer.

“You’ve done everything I think you can to enlighten yourself, your own rehabilitation and understanding of the significant harm these types of offences can bring young children,” judge Harvey said as he accepted a joint sentence recommendation from the Crown and defence.

Huppe will appear on the National Sex Offender registry for the next decade.

His probation conditions include continued counselling, restricted internet access and staying away from minors who aren’t family members.

Huppe was ordered to provide a DNA sample and forfeit devices seized by police.

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