A leading figure in Montreal’s Jewish community says he is ashamed and sorry that he downloaded pornographic images onto his computer.
Bill Surkis, 71, former director of Montreal’s Holocaust Memorial Center and a former official with B’nai Brith Canada, says he is not a sex offender.
Surkis pleaded guilty in May to two counts of possessing and accessing child pornography dating back to 2008. A charge of distributing child pornography was dropped.
At his sentencing hearing in Quebec Superior Court in Montreal on Oct. 28, the prosecution and Surkis’ lawyer agreed he should receive a jail term of 45 days to be served on weekends; perform 240 hours of community work; and be placed on probation for three years.
Surkis’ lawyer rejected the prosecution’s request that his client be added to the national sex offender registry. He described his client as a “stellar” member of the community and produced reference letters from prominent rabbis.
Surkis admitted to downloading nearly nine hours of pornographic videos because he was curious. “I destroyed my life and parts of my family’s life,” he told the court. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 9. — jta