(Written by Jenny Hagan westcentralonline.com)

A Saskatchewan man convicted of child exploitation offences has been sentenced to 15 years in prison following a court decision by Justice Grant Currie.

The husband of a home-based daycare owner in Marshall Saskatchewan, will spend the next 15 years in jail for sexually assaulting two boys under the age of three and using children entrusted into his wife’s care to make child pornography shared online.

Joseph Sproull was found guilty on all eight charges related to child exploitation, stemming from a 2021 investigation.

The investigation began when the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit and the Maidstone RCMP received a report from the online application Kik that child pornography videos were uploaded on their platform. A search warrant was executed July 14th and the Government of Saskatchewan Ministry of Education was alerted the same day after it was determined a home based daycare was operating at the residence.

Investigators say the two cellphones and two laptops found at the home were provided to police. The forensic examination involved multiple specialized RCMP units and police say they located images of unknown children being sexually assaulted by a male. Investigators believe three children were being assaulted in these photographs. Nearly 500 images were found.

During pre-sentencing, the Crown had recommended an 18-and-a-half-year sentence, while the defence had sought six years. In delivering the 15-year sentence, Currie weighed both aggravating and mitigating factors in the case.

A victim’s mother delivered a powerful impact statement in court, stating that no sentence would ever be enough to account for the pain and trauma inflicted. “The pain and trauma go beyond physical and are immeasurable,” she said.

Sproull, who was employed, had no prior criminal record and was a community volunteer, will face several restrictions upon his release. He will be placed on the sex offender registry for life and is required to provide a DNA sample. He is also subject to a 10-year weapons ban and is prohibited for life from attending parks, schools, and daycares—anywhere children under 16 may be present.