A man from Saskatchewan has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a young girl and creating photos and videos of the abuse. Nicholas Melnyk, 36, was caught after authorities were alerted by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in the U.S. The Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit received a tip about a video posted on Snapchat from an IP address in southern Saskatchewan.
Following a search warrant, police found Melnyk in possession of numerous photos and videos of child sexual abuse on his cellphones. Among the disturbing content were 26 photos and four videos depicting the abuse of a seven-year-old victim, who was unrelated to him. The victim’s identity is protected by a publication ban.
Melnyk pleaded guilty to charges of sexual interference, making child pornography, and possessing child pornography. According to the statement of facts presented in court, Melnyk confessed to undressing the girl, engaging in inappropriate touching, and coercing her to touch him.
During sentencing, the Crown pushed for a 15-year term, reduced to 12 years applying the totality principle, which prevents excessive sentencing for multiple charges. The defense advocated for an eight-year sentence, reduced to seven years due to the same principle. The judge, Justice Graeme Mitchell, referred to a 2020 Supreme Court case that established new sentencing standards for child abuse cases.
Considering the circumstances, Mitchell determined a 13-year sentence for Melnyk, ultimately reducing it to 10 years following the application of the totality principle. The sentence includes seven years for sexual interference, two years for making child pornography, and one year for possessing child pornography. Despite having no previous criminal record, Melnyk did not receive any credit for time served while awaiting trial.