The trial on child pornography-related charges of former Athabasca youth worker Jason Andrew Keough, 36, continued Tuesday with testimony that Keough provided a friend with video cameras to make a sex tape with his underage girlfriend, then kept the tape after the friend asked that he destroy it.
The man, now 23, testified in Edmonton’s Court of Queen’s Bench that he met Keough in 2005 at the Athabasca Native Friendship Centre, where Keough was a youth coordinator. They became friends and starting meeting at Keough’s house, sometimes drinking beer.
The man testified that making the sex tape was his idea, that his girlfriend consented, and that Keough provided him with two video cameras.
He said he later gave the tape to Keough and asked him to destroy it. A few weeks later, when his girlfriend asked to destroy the tape herself, Keough said he had lost it.
Athabasca RCMP Const. Tom Meloche testified that the tape was among those seized when police executed a search warrant on Keough’s home in 2008.
The man also testified that Keough had discussed pornography before, suggesting that if the man were to make a sample video, it could be marketed in the U.S.
Also during Tuesday’s court proceedings, Meloche testified one of the tapes seized from Keough’s home contains footage of Keough positioning a video camera and covering it with clothing. Later, two people are filmed having sex in the room.
Keough had pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including making and possessing child pornography, and voyeurism. His trial is expected to last through Friday.
The identities of civilian witnesses are protected by a court-ordered publication ban.
Check www.athabascaadvocate.com for further updates.
