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TORONTO – A man who once was deputy education minister in Ontario and Manitoba has been sentenced to three years behind bars after pleading guilty to three child pornography-related charges.
Benjamin Levin, 63, was originally charged with seven child porn-related offences.
In her decision, the judge said Levin, a father of three, “appeared to have it all” but had a “hidden dark side.”
But she says he has a low risk of reoffending and appears “genuinely remorseful.”
Court has heard Levin used to frequent an online website with numerous chatrooms for the discussion of sexual activities.
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.
Levin was arrested in July 2013 when a search warrant was executed at his home. He was a university professor 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.
