Nova Scotia

Former N.S. paramedic facing new child porn charges

A 52-year-old former paramedic is facing child pornography charges for a second time, after police say they were notified by a social media platform.

Police say home was searched after notification from social media platform

rcmp royal canadian mounted police cruiser cop car vehicle crime enforcement
Todd Allen Sawler is scheduled to appear in court later in June to answer to the charges, RCMP say. (David Bell/CBC)

A former Nova Scotia paramedic is facing child pornography charges for a second time.

Todd Allen Sawler, 52, has been charged with several offences after police say they searched a home in Eastern Passage, N.S., last Thursday, during which they seized electronic devices.

In a news release on Tuesday, RCMP said the search was precipitated by a tip from a social media platform.

The charges Sawler faces include two counts of possessing child pornography, two counts of accessing child pornography and charges of making and transmitting child pornography.

He's also facing additional charges for allegedly failing to comply with probation conditions from previous offences.

In 2017, Sawler was convicted of two counts of internet luring and one count of distributing child pornography. He was sentenced to 20 months in jail, followed by 28 months of probation.

At the time, he blamed his behaviour on trauma he experienced through his job as a paramedic.

Sawler is scheduled to appear in Nova Scotia provincial court later in June regarding the latest charges.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Blair Rhodes

Reporter

Blair Rhodes has been a journalist for more than 40 years, the last 31 with CBC. His primary focus is on stories of crime and public safety. He can be reached at blair.rhodes@cbc.ca