Courtesy of Byron Christopher
March 19, 2019
It’s never easy chasing ‘delicate’ stories.
In the news business, we sometimes come across interesting information that can’t be verified — for various reasons.
It could be that records are sealed or destroyed, witnesses are afraid to come forward, too much time has passed … or the story is simply “dangerous” because it’s a huge embarrassment to the establishment — a black eye to the system we’re supposed to trust.
There are three credible sources for the post you’re about to read … two senior police officers and a Court of Queens Bench Justice. All retired — and confidential.
REMEMBER VHS TAPES?
The story begins more than 30 years ago on a side street in Edmonton, Alberta.
A City sanitation worker was emptying garbage cans into an idling garbage truck when he came across a VHS tape. Curious to see what was on the tape, he brought it home, popped it in a VHS player and turned on his TV …
Whoa! He found himself watching a homemade pornographic movie with two males going at it. One was an adult; the other, a youth. [The adult was the ‘insertive’ partner; the youngster the ‘receptive’ partner.]
The City employee turned the tape over to Edmonton Police [EPS] where one of the officers [call him ‘Cop #1’] viewed the shocking evidence and announced, “That’s an Edmonton Court of Queens Bench Justice!”
The video recording was made while the man was a lawyer, not a judge.
Photo: Author
According to Cop #1, the short video was hand-held and shot by the perpetrator.
POLICE BRASS
The Chief of Police got involved. Cop #1 was then removed from the file. Other officers were assigned.
A few weeks later, the justice resigned.
No charges were laid. The justice remained a free man. He went back to being a lawyer.
Cop #1 then checked his computer and made a shocking discovery — the file he had worked on had mysteriously vanished. He called it one of the biggest disappointments of his long career in law enforcement.
Initially, the officer refused to identify the judge.
I was curious as hell to find out the man’s identity, and so I asked around. No one seemed to know. If they did, they weren’t talking.
A few years later, I hit pay dirt with Cop #2 … a former city detective. The man spoke freely about the case, recalling many details as if they’d happened only weeks earlier.
Cop #1 and #2 do not know each other’s identity.
Cop # 2 provided the name of the justice. I didn’t know him — never met him — but I was quite aware of his family name because it was so well-known, especially in Edmonton.
The family name is still well-known. And, far as I can tell, it’s a respected name as well.
Because no charges were ever laid, I cannot make the man’s name public. I also can’t reveal which federal political party appointed him to the bench … or the year he became a justice … or the year he was ordered to resign. That information would identify him.
I doubt very much that charges will ever be laid. And that’s the whole point of this story.
[Note that in Alberta, judge refers to someone appointed by the provincial government. Higher up the food chain is a justice, appointed by Ottawa. So as not to be overly repetitive, I’ve used ‘judge’ and ‘justice’ interchangeably.]
A DEAL IS CUT
I asked Cop #2 why the pedophile wasn’t charged. His response was that it was a plea bargain — “resign and you won’t be charged.” Well, I suppose it’s tantamount to a ‘plea bargain’ … but not really because there was nothing to plead. The justice was never charged and therefore did not appear in court.
The backstory from Cop #2 was that several EPS officers flew to Ottawa where they spent the night at the Chateau Laurier, a 5-star hotel downtown. Next morning, the policemen met behind closed doors with the Federal Minister of Justice and theDeputy-Minister of Justice.
A communications official with the Department of Justice in Ottawa confirmed the dates of service for the justice — and the Prime Minister who appointed him. The communications staffer I spoke with either didn’t know why the justice resigned or they didn’t want to share the juicy details.
A resignation letter was drafted for the justice. The officers promptly returned to Edmonton, walked over to the Law Courts Building, rode the elevator to the top floor where Court of Queens Bench Justices have their offices.
According to Cop # 2, the disgraced Justice promptly signed his resignation papers and was given “five minutes to clean out his desk.”
The Law Courts Building in downtown Edmonton. Photo: Author
THE VICTIM
I’m told the victim likely came from a temporary jail for young offenders, the Yellowhead Youth Detention Centre which, at the time, was located alongside Yellowhead Trail in North-Central Edmonton.
I’m also told the victim was in his early teens, and Native.
I was not able to track down the youngster who — if he’s still alive — would now be in his late 40s.
ANOTHER JUSTICE REACTS
When told about the porn tape, a retired Court of Queens Bench Justice asked, “Does his last name start with [X]?” “Yes, it does,” I replied. Turns out, the Justice knew the man — in fact, had worked alongside him.
He then talked about a rumour circulating at his workplace, the Law Courts, after the justice mysteriously left. “We heard he was in possession of child porn,” he said. I shot back, “Possession? Shit, he was the leading actor in a movie …”
I told the retired judge that I planned to do a story on it, but that I continued to search for information — possibly a confirmation on record somewhere — and, hopefully, track down the suspect and speak with him. As in, see what he has to say.
I added, “I have no problem taking the word of the police on this because you guys do it all the time.” “Interesting,” the retired judge said, rubbing his chin.
MAKES ONE WONDER …
A fair question: how many cases did the boy-lover justice handle that involved people facing sex crimes? Were they given breaks or did he play by the rules??
The pedophile went back to practicing law and according to the retired Court of Queens Bench Justice … he returned to the Law Courts Building at least once — as an attorney.
The man remained a card-carrying member of the Law Society of Alberta, which — on paper at least — has a sparkling code of ethics.
The porn star finished off his career as a lawyer, working part-time for an Edmonton law firm.
The man is married and according to a woman who knows his family, describes his wife as “lovely.” She asked that I not do the story for fear his wife would read it and be hurt.
The source didn’t have much good to say about the rogue lawyer except that she’d been advised — in the 1980s — to stay clear of him because of his sexual behaviour.
DOES THAT TAPE EXIST?
I have inquired about the whereabouts of the video tape because I want to see it for myself.
Both Cops #1 and #2 say that ain’t happening. One believes that CSIS, Canada’s best-known spy agency, has the tape. Don’t know if I buy that. The second officer feels the tape is in a very secure part of the main police station downtown where evidence is kept under lock and key. Few people have access to the special evidence room. I certainly don’t.
Other police officers I spoke to about this touchy file feel the video tape has not been destroyed because it’s “evidence.” Don’t know if I believe that either.
‘PRIVATE MATTER’
I figured that the Alberta Government department that looks after police and judges in the province [Justice and Solicitor General] would have the power to confirm the video tape exists, and possibly view it. A lawyer for the deputy-minister flatly rejected that idea, saying it is a “private” matter between police and the courts.
You bet it’s private. That’s a huge part of the problem.
From the website of the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General, I found this quote: “[the department] leads a fair and innovative justice system, ensures effective policing and supports victims of violence.” Nice words.
A PREACHER’S THOUGHTS
I was discussing this file with a pastor friend who said he wasn’t surprised to hear a Court of Queen’s Bench justice could be having sex with boys.
His spin was that pedophilia is everywhere … in many organizations. “It’s just that the Roman Catholic Church got busted,” he says, “but they’re certainly not alone.”
I hope he’s wrong, but I have this dark feeling this kind of BS [by that, I mean the crime and cover-up] goes on more than we care to admit.
Photo: Canadian Civil Liberties Association
WARNING
“It is very dangerous to go after this guy … think about it. Our society is not the same as before. They’re well connected, better than you realize. They will take you to the cleaners, take your house, everything.”
IN CONCLUSION
What do you get from this article? For starters, you have the right to believe it, or not believe it. The choice is yours.
But don’t stop believing in our police and our judicial system. It’s not perfect … but it’s all we have. And it goes without saying — but I’ll say it anyway — there’s certainly room for improvement.
We should always be vigilant and strive to make our criminal justice system more accountable. If we don’t, we’ll surely have a two-tiered farce … where the law depends on money and influence.
Or, a roll of the dice.
Some say that system is already broken …
23 thoughts on “A Judge’s Sudden Departure …”
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A very interesting case. Does not surprise me that evidence disappeared and all is covered up.
I also believe there is a lot of that that goes on in just about every city and town. Not all judges but in all walks of life.
There are covered up cases here in Campbellton [New Brunswick]. They say money talks, well it sure does.
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I wondered how you would handle the sensitive dimension of naming the lead actor in this story.
This is quite good. There is sufficient evidence for the reader to recognize the legitimacy of your story. At the same time, other than yourself, the people involved are anonymous. Respectful.
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Good one!
Not sure if you realize, but one of President Trump’s goals is to clean up child-trafficking and pedophilia. There are over 80,000 sealed indictments, many have now been unsealed, and pedos are being rounded up and charged.
There have been a number of them so far this year.
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I have to agree that this sort of thing has been going on years, everywhere, with most of the evidence covered up somehow!
Nowadays, people are speaking out about it and that’s a good thing, as more and more are finally getting charged; but their sentences never seem to fit the crime, which is sad — especially for the victims!!
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Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
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Seemingly, it has always been thus — the powerful preying upon the most vulnerable — and getting away with it. Wish there were more folks like you to get these vultures into the everlasting Hells they deserve.
Keep up the good work — am proud to call you a friend!!!
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Wow … just simply wow … but still not surprising. It’s the world we live in today.
Totally corrupt.
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Good article and a good reminder of how money and power still don’t just talk – they roar!
Good for you exposing another instance of this.
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Wow, good read but very sad at the same time.
I just wonder how many victims of this judge have been quieted with long jail terms — or worse.
The fact his colleagues knew or heard rumours is very disheartening.
And you wonder why when police have issues believing in our justice system.
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10/10. Great work.
People scoff at the idea that the Clintons, Podesta and the rest of the crew could be guilty of sex abuse and are immune from the law.
Examples like this make me question how hard it is to keep secrets.
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Tyler,
That is exactly what I was thinking. The “talk” abounds about the actions of those you listed. Sadly power allows this to occur.
While there may not be justice in this life, we can only hope there will be in the next.
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I’m not surprised at anything anymore.
We only have to go back and look at one of the premiers of New Brunswick when everyone looked the other way.
Great story.
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Great piece. Would be better if the judge could be publicly identified.
Oh Canada.
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Thanks for your courage in presenting this, Byron. I honestly don’t know the best way to handle matters like this, but I so want this information to come out.
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This story is incredible — and heartbreaking.
Considering the need to be cautious about publicly lobbing accusations without full evidence, I wonder what unprinted suspicions you might harbor about a conspiracy or like that caused the footage to disappear.
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With power and $, you can get away with a lot of shit … just look at the children of the rich actors.
This makes me sick.
Thanks for your hard work.
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Fascinating and sad at the same time. Unfortunately this does exist in our society, even with those tasked with preventing the very crime which occurred.
Thankfully there are good, responsible, caring individuals who do their best to fight this, with a passion that should give hope to victims and scare the perpetrators.
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This was not a plea bargain. It was an under-the-table offer which it appears the judge took. Otherwise, at least here [USA], his law license would have been rescinded.
Some people.
In my military days, senior officers pretty much got the same treatment, whereas the enlisted guys got burned. We called it “Different spanks for different ranks”.
And leadership always tried to feed us this bullshit that low-end reprimands instead of court martials or dismissals were just as bad … or worse.
Yeah, right.
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Very well written.
When secret stories of corruption and illegal activity are shared and then they become public, one can only hope that more information/evidence comes to light.
And maybe one day, justice will be served. Or at the very least the judge will be looking over his shoulder.
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This goes on all over the world. I’ve been in law enforcement for almost 19 years and I’ve found that all crime leads to politics.
When there are no consequences for someone’s actions what is going to stop them?
The judge will reap what he’s dealt that child.
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Still sticking your nose in things, Byron. I think that’s great.
What about the government? I understand justice has to be independent from politics … however when justice goes bad, somebody has to have the authority to correct things.
Original Story HERE
Think we all know, things like this go on. Kudos to you for writing about it!
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