A Toronto actor best-known for his role playing a boorish Scot in Canadian beer commercials has pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography on the Internet.
Robert Smith, 42, changed his not guilty plea after his defence lawyer, Cindy Wasser, abandoned a constitutional challenge of the search warrant used by police to obtain Smith’s subscriber information from the Internet Service Provider, as well as the warrant executed at his home in north Toronto.
Asked by Justice Robert Clark if he came to the decision without being pressured, Smith responded clearly, “Yes, your honour.”
The actor was featured in TV ads for Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale that were taken off the air after his arrest on Feb. 14, 2006.
Under the Criminal Code, Smith could face incarceration of 18 months to two years. He returns to court next Monday when a date for sentencing is expected to be set.
