As a result, Gordon Hickey will spend the next six months in jail.
Hickey’s attorney, Daniel Watters, made attempts last week to win his client a conditional sentence, which would have allowed Hickey to carry out his incarceration under house arrest rather than in prison.
Judge Graydon Nicholas initially had accepted the plea, but changed his mind when Hickey tried to defend his child porn collection, which included hundreds of digital photographs and more than 60 digital movies.
“I have great reservations about a conditional sentence in this circumstance,” Nicholas said in his ruling. “I think jail has to be the message here.”
According to a pretrial report filed by the district attorney, Hickey likened child pornography legislation to government censorship, even telling probation officers that the practice was a “victimless crime” and that the government should leave him alone.
“Mr. Hickey has absolutely no remorse,” Nicholas said. “It's sad he is of that opinion. How could anyone not be revolted by these photographs?”
Joan Irvine, director of The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection, agreed heartily with Nicholas’ assessment.
“I can’t believe that this person thinks that any crime against children is victimless,” Irvine told XBiz. “Someone sexually abuses a child while taking these pictures and videos. Someone is making money because of this sexual abuse. These children are damaged for life; they are never the same. Plus, the crime against them is repeated each time someone else sees the pictures. It is so sick that someone is trying to justify such behavior.”