A well-known Saint John city councillor is facing child pornography and sexual touching charges.
RCMP executed a search warrant at the Martha Avenue home of 40-year-old Donald Snook Wednesday night.
Police say their investigation began in 2011 and involved the RCMP, Saint John Police Force, and Toronto Police Service.
They seized several items, including computer equipment and children sexual abuse images, during their search.
Snook was arrested at the scene and appeared in Saint John provincial court Thursday afternoon.
He was escorted into the courtroom looking disheveled and wearing leg irons, and appeared bewildered as the eight criminal charges were read out in court.
Snook is facing three counts of sexual interference on a child under 16 years of age, two counts of possession of child pornography, one count of making child pornography and two counts of making child pornography available.
The court was packed with people who looked equally shocked to be hearing the disturbing allegations against Snook.
“I have no words for it really,” says Darrell Bastarache, who has known Snook for more than a decade. “It blows me away. Just to hear something like this and it’s in front of your face, it’s a real disappointment.”
Snook was first elected in 2008, based largely on his work as a community activist in the south end of Saint John. He was one of only two incumbent councillors to be re-elected in the spring.
Some of Snook’s fellow councillors also struggled to respond to the allegations.
“The only thing I can say is that I’m very sad,” says Coun. Shirley McAlary. “I’m sad for Coun. Snook and sad for the community.”
Snook sits on a number of other city boards and committees, is the longtime director of the Inner City Youth Ministry and is a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Saint John.
“I was really shocked because Donnie was a figurehead in this community,” says Saint John antique shop owner Marcel Doucet. “He did a lot for the children.”
Doucet’s shop sits only a few blocks away from where Snook ran a hot lunch program.
“The kids would run and down the street with him, take his hat, and he’d be swinging them in his arms and you know, this is a shock to everybody.”
Police are not ruling out further charges as their investigation continues.
“The investigation first started because of the Internet Child Exploitation,” says RCMP Cpl. Chantal Farrah. “However, from that we have had additional charges which include sexual interference.”
Snook did not enter a plea to any of the charges. He has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing Monday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Dunbar and Mike Cameron
