Former teacher sentenced to prison for sexually touching, filming kids

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A former supply teacher who pleaded guilty to a long list of sexual offences against young people was sentenced Thursday to three and a half years in prison.

Stephen Riley Blackwood, 38, who appeared in the prisoner’s dock in Moncton Provincial Court, is to only serve 18 months of that due to time already served.

Blackwood worked as a supply teacher in the Anglophone East School District in the fall of 2022, and also ran a YouTube channel where he uploaded videos of young boys at beaches and pools.

In December, he pleaded guilty to eight counts of touching a person under 16 for sexual purposes, to one assault charge, two charges of voyeurism for making secret videos of people in locker rooms, one charge of breach of a release undertaking, and two charges of breach of a release order.

All offences dated between July 2022 and December 2022, court heard, and some occurred within schools where Blackwood was working.

According to facts read in court in February, Blackwood would encourage male students between the ages of nine and 13 to play games that involved taking them into a private room and having them lift their shirts over their heads. Victims reported feeling Blackwood press against them when they lifted their shirts with one boy saying he felt bare skin contact.

A criminal investigator psychologist had testified during Blackwood’s sentencing hearing that his actions were sexually motivated, likely by a sexual deviancy known as partialism – a sexual arousal focused on a specific part of the body other than genitals, in this case, a prepubescent boy’s naked chest and/or feeling of the upper torso pressed against his naked chest.

Blackwood’s voyeurism charges relate to 40 videos taken at the Dieppe Aquatic and Sports Centre between July 6, 2022, and Nov. 5, 2022, a video taken at the CEPS pool in Moncton in October 2022, at the YMCA pool in Moncton’s north end between Sept. 30, 2022, and Dec. 1, 2022 and in Fredericton where police received five calls between Nov. 10, 2022, and Nov. 12, 2022, when there was a boys hockey tournament in the area.

The calls reported a man who attended four different hotels and filmed boys in the pools.

Judge Suzanne Bernard called Blackwood’s actions disturbing, saying he goes to “great lengths to find himself in the presence of very young children and most times he is alone with them.”

Bernard said, when it came to the offences in schools, Blackwood used his position to gain access to children.

“The children trusted him,” she said.

Bernard said most of the victim impact statements from children shared a common theme of feelings of guilt and fear. She said the children said they did not feel good after what happened and fear seeing Blackwood again.

“All the victims have suffered and have continued to suffer. They have described feeling anxious, feeling sad, mad, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty sleeping,” Bernard said.

She said the children reported feeling a loss of dignity and a loss of trust in the school system, at home, and in sporting activities.

Blackwood did not say anything to the court following sentencing. In February he read a letter, saying he has no excuses and little explanation for his crimes.

He said he is “truly sorry” for his actions and did not intend to cause pain or distress.

Blackwood was also banned from using the internet for 15 years, is prohibited from blogging or vlogging websites, and must comply with the National Sex Offender Registry for life. He is also prohibited from going to public parks or swimming areas where persons under the age of 16 are present or can reasonably be expected to be present.

He is also prohibited from attending daycares, schools, playgrounds, or community centres. He is prohibited from working or volunteering in a position of trust with people children under 16 and from attending public pools and beaches.

He is to have no contact with people under the age of 16 and no contact with victims or members of their families. Blackwood must also provide a sample of his DNA.

Bernard said Blackwood plans to move to Ontario with his mother after his release.