LONDON, Ont. - Convicted Internet lurer Gary Collins had something to say -- and it wasn't sorry.
For at least 15 minutes Monday, after he was sentenced to 15 months in jail, the 38-year-old St. Marys man rambled on about how he believed he was entrapped.
"You're destroying my life," he told Superior Court Justice Kelly Gorman.
Collins was found guilty after a trial last year in which he challenged the police investigation into his communication with an undercover police officer posing as 13-year-old "Shelly Wyatt."
In March 2007, Collins was arrested at Masonville Place with two Toblerone bars after arranging during one of many sexually charged online chats to meet the young teen for sex. "Shelly" told Collins online that Toblerone was her favourite chocolate bar.
Collins told Gorman he went to the mall that day still in his work clothes to buy pants at Zellers.
"Obviously it wasn't a priority for me because I didn't buy pants," he said.
While walking out through the check-out, he said he saw the smaller versions of the large chocolate bars and "I was hungry."
Collins blamed the Crown and The Free Press for the coverage. He was particularly miffed at a newspaper description of the emoticons that were attached to the message showing sex acts in little short clips.
Collins said he didn't know the emoticons would show up every time he typed in certain phrases.
He told the judge he'd only had sex twice in his life, "so it's not a priority for me. My priorities are rest, relaxation and paying my bills on time."
Collins said the police were pestering him to chat online.
"I was trying to get away from this person," he said about "Shelly."
"They kept talking to me."
And on the day of his arrest at the mall "just steps from the door," he was not in a rush to leave the area. If the officers had waited a few more seconds, they would have seen him leave the parking lot, he said.
Collins didn't know why officials asked him if he wanted to be in protective custody after his arrest. Once in jail, reports appeared in print and on TV and he said he feared for his life Collins said he never wants to see a computer again.
His defence lawyer Gordon Cudmore had asked for a sentence of eight to 12 months. Assistant Crown attorney Jennifer Chalykoff pitched an 18- to 24-month jail term.
Gorman said crimes such as Internet luring "are so horrific in nature" they require severe sentences.
At the same time, "I don't want to crush Mr. Collins."
Collins told Gorman, "I understand where you are coming from" but "15 months seems like a long time."
Gorman also attached a two-year probation order and an order to stay away from public places where children might be.
No comments:
Post a Comment