Crown prosecutors are considering seeking dangerous offender status for Russell Dennis Wolfe, court heard Tuesday on day two of the 58-year-old’s sentencing hearing.
Wolfe pleaded guilty last month to 20 offences, including eight counts of sexual assault and four counts each of making child pornography and paying for sexual services from someone under 18.
Designation as a dangerous offender or long-term offender could result in Wolfe receiving an indefinite jail sentence.
Several images and videos seized from Wolfe’s home in 2014 as part of a country-wide police bust were shown in court Monday. Some of the images were taken in his house with girls from Saskatoon, the Crown said.
Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit investigators told media outside court Tuesday the case hit home for the unit’s members.
“This was a unique case,” Cpl. Jared Clarke said.
“A lot of our ICE investigations involve material not involving local victims. In this case we had local victims and had to sit down and talk with them and meet with them so it brought a lot of realism to this case. So in that sense it was a lot different than a number of other ICE investigations.”
The case involves 14 girls, according to Crown prosecutors. Most were from Wolfe’s neighbourhood. Many knew each other. Some were sisters. Most were elementary school-aged and the youngest was nine years old.
Several victim impact statements were read during proceedings Monday and Tuesday.
"It takes a toll not only on the prosecutor and the court but also on the victims,” prosecutor Lana Morelli said. “We did have one victim in court for the entire process and another victim who tried but wasn't able to make it through, so it does feel good this part of the process is done and we are ready to start the second part."
The Crown will now start compiling all of Wolfe’s criminal history — right back to the jail time he served more than 20 years ago — and will likely apply to have the case assessed by a forensic expert. The expert’s report, if granted by a judge, would help determine if Wolfe be declared a dangerous offender.
“We don't make these applications lightly. We make them in consultation with our colleagues and superiors,” said Crown prosecutor Bryce Pashovitz.
Wolfe’s defence lawyer, Brian Pfefferle, said he does not think his client is a dangerous offender.
“Either have him sentenced as a regular offender or have him sentenced to what would be a long-term offender order, so that he'll be rereleased and integrated, at some point, back into the community. That will likely be our position,” he said.
The case will be back in court in June.