A retired Calgary police officer who pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography says he was only trying to rescue his victims.
Stephen Huggett says he collected and viewed the material in a misguided effort to put a stop to it. "I was earnestly trying to help these children. I realize in doing so I have done some harm and regret that,' says Huggett.
On Tuesday, Huggett appeared in court for sentencing arguments after pleading guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
Huggett's lawyer says his client is not a pedophile. "My client maintains he did not have this material for purposes of sexual gratification but to try and identify the source of the material...and rescuing these young children," says Mark Tyndale.
Tyndale asked that Huggett be sentenced to jail for 45 to 90 days; the Crown wants Huggett sentenced to six to nine months followed by probation.
Judge Barbara Veldhuis will deliver the sentence on August 4th.
Huggett was a Calgary police officer for 25 years before retiring in 2007.
