VANCOUVER -- A former middle school vice principal from Abbotsford, B.C., has pleaded not guilty to two child porn-related charges at the start of his trial in New Westminster.
A voir dire, or trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of evidence, is being held following a request from defence lawyer Vincent Michaels, which was was agreed to by the Crown. Michaels is arguing the grounds for the search warrant executed at Haire’s house were insufficient. Michaels said the upload was flagged by Instagram and ultimately reported to the Abbotsford Police Department. He added the social media platform also noted an IP address attached to the upload, which was later the subject of a production order served on Telus by police. Michaels told the court a search warrant was executed at Haire’s home on Sept. 13, 2018.
“All I knew...was that the user of the internet at that residence was involved in the upload," Nugent said. "I didn’t take into consideration how many possible users were at the residence, all I know was that a user on that day at that time uploaded child pornography material.”
From the bible belt, it was ever thus.