A well-known Edmonton playwright, and former substitute teacher, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography last month.
David Belke, 57, was sentenced to six months in jail, has been registered under the sex offenders’ registry and was handed a $100 surcharge.
READ MORE: Edmonton teacher charged with child pornography offence
Belke was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography in March, following an investigation by Edmonton police and the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT).
ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team said it had no information to suggest Belke “offended on any children.”
The investigation began in late February after a tip from a computer repair shop. A computer was seized and ALERT said child sexual exploitation photos and videos were found on it.
Among hundreds of files found on the computer, court heard last month that 12 photos and six stories were determined to be child pornography.
READ MORE: Edmonton playwright pleads guilty to possession of child pornography
Belke was a substitute teacher in Edmonton and heavily involved in local theatre. In March, Edmonton Public Schools said Belke was no longer serving as a substitute teacher.
When Belke entered a guilty plea on Oct. 26, he had about a dozen supporters in the courtroom.
The Crown was seeking a six-month sentence – which is the minimum sentence – followed by 12 months of probation, and that he also continue counselling.
— With files from Global’s Caley Ramsay