Defendant admits to child-porn crimes
Donald Ashley MacPherson, 66, of Noonan, to be sentenced in February for access and possession; same accused also awaiting trial on charges of sexually assaulting two minors
Editor’s note: The defendant in this court report and the journalist covering the case share the same first and last names, but they aren’t related or connected in any way.
A Noonan man who previously denied allegations involving child pornography opted instead to admit to those crimes Tuesday, averting a trial.
Donald Ashley MacPherson, 66, of Hughes Street in Noonan, was scheduled to stand trial in Fredericton provincial court for two days beginning Tuesday on charges of accessing child pornography between Feb.12 and April 16, 2023, and possessing it May 3, 2023.
He appeared with defence lawyer Tim Murphy before Judge Natalie LeBlanc, but the trial didn’t proceed.