LOGAN — A judge has sentenced a 35-year-old Logan man to prison for downloading child pornography and filming a relative while she was naked. Judge Brian Cannell gave Simon H. Saichek the maximum sentence, two concurrent terms of 1 to 15-years, telling the defendant he hoped that he would change his life.
Saichek was sentenced in 1st District Court Thursday morning. He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, after being arrested in July.
Saichek tearfully told the court he was a deeply disturbed individual. He apologized to law enforcement and prosecutors, for subjecting them to the photos and videos that he had collected. He said, “I have done incomputable damage to my life, my family and society.”
Defense attorney Gerald Salcido explained that his client had been dealing with a sexual addiction since he was young. He asked for a lesser sentence saying, “I think sending him to prison would create more collateral damage.”
Jacob Gordan disagreed, explaining that Saichek failed to understand what kind of damage child pornography does. He said, “I think it is outrageous that he apologizes to everyone but the victims that were filmed for his viewing pleasure.”
Judge Brian Cannell agreed with Gordon, saying that Saichek hadn’t expressed any remorse for the victims. He said if the defendant really hoped to change his life, it starts by realizing that the people on the other end of the camera were harmed significantly.
Saicheck was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and complete sex offender therapy while serving his sentence. He was given credit for the time he has already served in jail.