Retired Kamloops Teacher On Trial After Father, Son Uncover Child Porn Stash

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A father and son doing minor renovation work in a Kamloops apartment uncovered a retired teacher's stash of child pornography, a B.C. Supreme Court heard.

The trial began on Monday for 66-year-old Jerry Waselenkoff, who faces one count of possession of child porn.

The court heard how Franz van der Woning and his son discovered a collection of discs hidden beneath a ceiling heating duct while working in his apartment unit, located below Waselenkoff's residence, in October 2012.

Van der Woning testified that he confronted Waselenkoff several days later, informing him that he had given the discs to the RCMP.

"I thought he had suicidal thoughts," said van der Woning. "He actually said he had enough sleeping pills in his house to make an end of it."

Waselenkoff retired from his job as a teacher in 2006.

While on bail last year, Waselenkoff asked a judge to allow him to travel to Thailand for a golf holiday.

The Crown opposed, citing the nature of the child pornography alleged to have been in Waselenkoff's possession, which allegedly included videos of white men engaged in sex acts with Southeast Asian boys.

Waselenkoff's application was denied.

His trial is expected to conclude this week.