Suspect in sex assault of 5-year-old Calgary boy has history of possessing child pornography

A Calgary man charged in the sexual assault of a five-year-old boy over the weekend has previously served time in jail for possessing child pornography, court documents obtained Tuesday reveal.

The child was riding a bike in the 3000 block of Elbow Drive S.W. around 10 a.m. on Saturday when he came across a man who was looking through garbage bins, according to police.

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The man and the child then had a brief conversation, police said, before the man assaulted the boy.

'Incredible support system'

The child, who was not physcially hurt,thenran home and told his parents, who immediately called police.

"The victimhas got an incredible support system," Staff Sgt. Melanie Oncescu with the Calgary Police Service (CPS) child abuse unit, said at a media briefing Tuesday.

She said while she is unable to reveal any specifics about the case, such investigations are handled very methodically, partly because young children communicate differently.

Immediately after the incident, the boy was taken to the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre for treatment.

Child pornography conviction

Kenneth Hornby, 57, was arrested on Sunday and charged with sexual assault, sexual interference with a child and invitation to sexual touching.

He served eight months in jail for possession of child pornography following charges in 2011.

Hornby has been back in court on several occasions since then, for breaching conditions of a recognizance and for failing to comply with probation.

Staff Sgt. Rob Davidsonfrom the specialized offender unit who oversees the CPS high risk offender programsaid he cannot confirm whether Hornby was being monitored.

However, he said members of the team conduct risk assessments of offenders on a weekly basis.

"As effective as we are, unfortunately, it is impossible to have a crystal ball," he said. "It's unfortunate that we aren't able to be everywhere at every time."

'Treatment and support'

Scharie Tavcer, who teaches criminal justice at Mount Royal University, says the incident highlights a systemic problem.

"Unfortunately it's not surprising because our communities lack the financial resources to invest in community treatment, mental health treatment, sex offender treatment, psychological servicesyou name it," she said.

"Not just probation supervision but treatment and support."

Hornby will be back in court on Wednesday.

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