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A California man is behind bars because of what border officers found on his cell phone

It was child pornography
text messages

A California man is doing time in Ontario after he was nabbed with child pornography when he tried to cross into Canada at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge in January.

Jason Bishop, 51, of Los Osos, pleaded guilty in September to importing child pornography and was sentenced to 18 months behind bars for the Criminal Code offence.

On Monday, he was convicted of attempting to smuggle pornographic images of persons under the age of 18 committing a sexual act — an offence under the Customs Act.

Ontario Court Justice Melanie Dunn imposed a six-month jail term, which he will serve concurrent to the sentence he is now serving.

"I sentenced you to a lengthy term not so long ago," she told the American citizen.

"Children are the world's most precious asset," the judge said, calling his actions "deplorable." 

Federal prosecutor Ben Pritchard said that when Bishop was stopped by Canadian border services on Jan. 27, he indicated he was going to a concert in Toronto.

He was referred to a secondary inspection, where a search of his cell phone, discovered a photo of a naked, prepubescent child, with exposed genitals, Pritchard said.

A second examination of the phone revealed two other photos of boys, and city police were contacted.

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About the Author: Linda Richardson

Linda Richardson is a freelance journalist who has been covering Sault Ste. Marie's courts and other local news for more than 45 years.
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