Judge Accepts Joint Submission in Child Porn Case
THUNDER BAY — Ronald Howard Wrigley, born Dec. 18, 1951, appeared in Thunder Bay court on Jan. 6, 2026, where he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
Justice Jennifer Hoshizaki accepted a joint submission from the Crown and defence and sentenced Wrigley to one year in jail, followed by two years of probation.
Investigation Began in 2024
Thunder Bay Police Service began investigating in November 2024 after information was received that a Westfort-area resident had been uploading child pornography, police said.
A search warrant was executed at a home on Frederica Street East on Jan. 15, 2025. Wrigley was arrested, and officers seized multiple electronic devices, including phones, hard drives, and a laptop. Police later reported locating 514 imagesof child pornography on the devices.
Court Heard Defence Submissions
Defence counsel Gilbert Labine told the court his client had divorced in 2019 and described Wrigley as having a “collection” interest in other items. Justice Hoshizaki indicated she did not see how that related to the offence before the court.
When given an opportunity to address the court, Wrigley apologized.
10-Year Section 161 Order Imposed
As part of the sentence, the court issued a 10-year order under Section 161 of the Criminal Code, which allows a judge to restrict an offender’s access to places and situations where children under 16 may be present.
A Section 161 order can include prohibitions such as:
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Attending certain public spaces where children under 16 are present or can reasonably be expected to be present (including parks, public swimming areas, daycares, schoolgrounds, playgrounds, and community centres).
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Being within a specified distance (the Code references two kilometres, or another distance set by the court) of locations identified in the order, including places connected to a victim.
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Working or volunteering in roles that place the offender in a position of trust or authority over children under 16.
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Having any contact or communication with anyone under 16 unless supervised by a person approved by the court.
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Using the internet or other digital networks, unless permitted under court-imposed conditions.
Section 161 orders can be made for life or a shorter period, and if an offender is jailed, the prohibition can begin on release. The law also permits the order to be varied later if circumstances change.
Breaching a Section 161 order is a separate criminal offence, punishable by up to four years in prison if prosecuted by indictment.
Additional Orders
The court also issued a weapons prohibition order, and Wrigley will be required to register as a sex offender for 20 years, as ordered under Canada’s sex offender registration regime.
In Summary: Thunder Bay man gets 1 year jail for child porn; 10-year s.161 ban and 20-year registry.
