Gary Philip Dolovich, 39, has been charged with 17 counts of distributing child
pornography over the Internet.
The man, a lawyer on unpaid leave from his job as a legal researcher at the
provincial Court of Appeal, was arrested Tuesday at Lester B. Pearson
International Airport in Mississauga, Ont., as he got off a plane from England.
He was escorted back to Winnipeg by police officers Wednesday, then released on
his own recognizance.
Police accuse Dolovich of distributing child porn through the Internet on 17
different occasions between May and September 2005. Police would not say to
whom he was allegedly distributing it or where he allegedly got it from.
Const. Blair Good, a spokesman for Winnipeg police, said cops began to
investigate the man after receiving a tip from a national police body that
deals with child exploitation.
On February 11, police seized several computers and hardware "from addresses
known to" Dolovich, said Good.
Police would not specify where the computers were seized from. Jeff Schnoor,
assistant deputy minister of courts for Manitoba Justice, said it doesn't
appear any government computers were involved or that Dolovich was accessing
child porn at work.
Following the February seizure, Dolovich was charged with one count each of
possessing and accessing child porn. He was then released from custody with the
conditions he not access the Internet, not possess any porn and avoid being
alone with anyone under 18 years of age without the written permission of Child
and Family Services.
Put On Unpaid Leave
Dolovich was put on unpaid leave from his job two days after the seizures, said
Schnoor.
Martin Glazer, Dolovich's lawyer, said his client then went to visit family in
England.
Meanwhile, police in Winnipeg combed through the seized computers and
discovered what they claim is evidence Dolovich had distributed child porn on
several occasions.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest, and Dolovich was nabbed
Tuesday as he returned to the country.
Glazer said his client had a return ticket to Winnipeg and was changing planes
in Toronto. He doesn't understand why police didn't arrest him here.
Dolovich has again been released from custody on the condition he not leave
Winnipeg. He also surrendered his Canadian and Israeli passports, since police
now consider him a flight risk.
Since the man is a justice department employee, the Crown has brought in
special prosecutor Marty Minuk to work on the case.
Glazer said his client is innocent until proven guilty and intends to fight the
charges.
