Mentally unstable cops: Calgary police officer re-arrested on child pornography charges

CALGARY — A retired police officer who was previously jailed for possession of child pornography is facing additional charges of child porn as well as sexual assault and criminal harassment.
The Calgary Police Service launched an investigation last January into allegations a woman in her 50s was being criminally harassed by her ex-boyfriend.
Police said the victim also alleged she had been sexually assaulted by the accused offender while the two were in a relationship.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Ayliffe of the domestic conflict unit confirmed the couple had been dating for a year and all the allegations stemmed from that period.
The sexual assault allegedly took place in one of their shared residences during their relationship, he said.
During the investigation, police received information that the suspect had accessed child pornography, he said.
Police arrested a man without incident Friday and executed a search warrant at his home in the Willow Park community.
Stephen Huggett, 58, who retired six years ago after 25 years with the Calgary Police Service, has been charged with one count each of sexual assault with a firearm, extortion, criminal harassment and possession of child pornography.
His first court appearance was scheduled for Monday.
Huggett no longer had any release prohibitions in place when the domestic conflict unit launched the investigation, Ayliffe said.
Ayliffe would not comment on whether the victim sustained physical harm or what type of firearm was used in the alleged sexual assault.
“Sexual assault with a firearm can potentially involve harm,” he said. “But at this point, the victim is doing as well as she could be given what she’s been through.”
Ayliffe said it’s unclear how much material was seized in the search, but added more charges could be laid as investigators continue to sift through the evidence.
Huggett was previously sentenced in 2009 to nine months in prison after a judge ruled the retired officer was collecting child porn for his own viewing.
Huggett argued in court he was collecting videos and images as part of a secret crusade to save the victims.
The judge didn’t buy it.
“Mr. Huggett was aware what he was participating in was a criminal offence. It took place over a long period of time,” said Judge Barbara Veldhuis in August 2009. “He had the child pornography, he kept it.
“There is absolutely no evidence he did anything of a legitimate nature with it. By that, I mean furthering any investigation within any police agencies, or turning the evidence over to a police agency on his retirement or at any point his investigation reached a dead end.”