Sam Pazzano: Benjamin Levin sent cop bondage picture of underage girl: Court hears

Benjamin Levin (sitting), defence lawyer Clayton Ruby
and Justice Heather McArthur

A former provincial deputy education minister who served on Premier Kathleen Wynne’s transition team exchanged revolting bondage photos of underage girls with an undercover police officer in New Zealand, court heard Tuesday.

Levin, 63, pleaded guilty in front of Justice Heather McArthur to making written child pornography, possession of child pornography and counselling to commit a sexual assault.

Levin was snared by undercover police officers from Toronto, London, Ont., and New Zealand — all posed as women interested in sexually abusing children and trolling chatlines, said Crown attorney Allison Dellandrea.

The New Zealand officer was actually a man, Russell Joe Gray, a covert Internet investigator. Gray “posed as single adult female interested in incest fantasies” while having text-based chats with Levin between Jan. 29, 2013 and July 4, 2013, said Dellandrea.  (more...)

Sam Pazzano: Benjamin Levin sent cop bondage picture of underage girl: Court hears