Joseph Sproull is led into the Court of King's Bench in Battleford for a pre-sentencing hearing on Jan. 22. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Sproull Pre-sentencing

Crown seeks 18.5 years; defense six in Sproull child porn case

Jan 22, 2025 | 5:56 PM

She called Joseph Sproull a monster.

“This is something a mother prays she will never have to do, and I have played this moment over and over in my mind what I would say to the man that took advantage of the innocence and trust of the children in his care,” said one of abused children’s mothers while reading from a victim impact statement.

“You have violated your right to be called a man.”

Wednesday’s pre-sentencing hearing at Court of King’s Bench follows a conviction last November on eight counts of child pornography and sexual assault. As the upset mother read, Sproull who was wearing a bright orange sweatshirt, stared out quietly from behind the plexiglass of the prisoner’s box.

At the beginning of the hearing, Justice Grant Currie was presented with a laptop and was made privy to an additional 10 images and one video of additional evidence that was both separate and apart from what was previously admitted. With that, Crown Prosecutor Andrew Clements, who called this the worst case of child exploitation he’s ever prosecuted, asked for a totality of 25 years – or 18.5 years – in custody.

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“There is a large range for this type of offence,” said Clements speaking with reporters following the hearing.

“Every sentence and every offender is going to be different. We think our position is supported by the case law and I certainly think Mr. Sproull, what he did is on the upper end of the spectrum.

Under the Kienapple Principal, they requested a stay of two of the charges – sexual assault and sexual interference as they considered the same thing and thus works like double jeopardy. As a result, the sentencing is strictly on the sexual assault charges. The ones that were judicially stayed were sexual interference.

As part of the sentencing, ancillary orders have also been requested including providing a DNA sample, being placed on the sexual offender registry and while the minimum is 20 years for any sentence over 14 years, the crown is seeking for Sproull’s name stay on the registry for his lifetime as they believe he is at high risk to reoffend.

Also included with the Crown’s submission is a 10-year prohibition on any weapons upon his release, no contact order with named complainants, and forfeiture of the one device that contains the materiel.

Moreover, Sproull may also be banned from attending parks, schools, daycares where children under the age of 16 may be present, employment paid or unpaid where the position involves a position of trust for children under the age of 16. He would also also not have any contact or communication with children under the age of 16 unless supervised.

Defense attorney Brian Pfefferle meanwhile is seeking a total of six years incarceration, less remand time. During submissions, he said Sproull grew up in a “prosocial” family, had no criminal record and had since become depressed and expressed suicidal ideation while going through the trial and subsequent incarceration. Pfefferle explained that people are capable of rehabilitation and have asked the court to consider it.

“The crown today in their sentencing submission pointed to a fact that everybody agrees with and that’s that children are our most valuable resource as Canadians,” he said, speaking with reporters following the hearing.

“When there’s an allegation that they’ve been exploited or offended against it’s a troubling case, so emotionally these are difficult cases.”

Reading on behalf of another family, Tammy Twerdohlib of Victim Services spoke softly yet clear.

“A devastating aspect of this ordeal is the loss of countless memories from that year,” she read in part.

The speaker read out the mother had multiple small children and as the result of the trauma her family faced, it led to significant impacts on her body including rendering her unable to produce breast milk.

“Precious moments with my children that I can never get back, all because of Joseph’s actions. My children lost their happy mother for a period of time and it’s not fair that he took that from them.”

As the proceedings went on, the gallery full of family members remained calm yet the tension in the air was palpable. Members fidgeted or grew emotional as some details of the personal struggles including subsequent nightmares and bed wetting by one of the children were shared.

After submissions were made, Currie asked Sproull if he wished to make a statement. The convicted man shook his head and said he did not.

Following the hearing, Clements told reporters that it was the particular location that made the case unique.

“It makes it exceptionally aggravating in our opinion,” he said.

“He perpetrated abuse of very, very young children in a position of trust and authority at a day care and I think that makes this case stand out.”

Meanwhile Pfefferle acknowledges that while his client continues to profess his innocence, it was his wife Elizabeth that identified the children in the photos.

“It’s just a really sad case that’s involved and obviously wish the best for everybody that’s involved here,” he said.

As for the families, their impact statements rang out with words of resistance.

“Little children don’t stay little forever. They grow up and they grow strong, they are resilient,” said the first mother.

“After carrying the burden of what you have done to us for so very long, we finally come to this day where we see you exposed as the real demon you finally are and get some justice for these children.”

The sentencing decision is expected on Feb.10.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social