Mario LaPlante, a 64 year-old man, pleaded guilty Monday to possession of, and making accessible, child pornography.
LaPlante, then living in Whati, was charged in August 2019 following an investigation by the NT RCMP Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) – a unit focused on
investigating child exploitation and abuse online.
LaPlante was released in Ontario under strict conditions, according to a news release from NT RCMP in 2019.
He is expected to be taken into custody at the start of his sentencing hearing next month.
Crown prosecutor Morgan Fane explained that the sentencing will take place in two parts. The first part, beginning May 11, 2021 will deal with admissibility of evidence for the second part scheduled for September where LaPlante will be sentenced on the child pornography charges.
A pre-sentence report has also been ordered.
Correction: A previous version of this story's headline incorrectly indicated the man was from Whati. He was in fact only living in Whati at the time of the offence. NNSL Media regrets the error and apologizes for any confusion it may have caused.