MONTREAL - A former director of B'nai Brith will begin serving a 45-day jail sentence on Friday for possession of child pornography.

Bill Surkis, who was also once dean of John Abbott College, pleaded guilty earlier this year, and reached an agreement with prosecutors to serve the minimum sentence.

On Thursday, Quebec Court Judge Celine Lamontagne ruled Surkis will serve 45 days in jail, to be served on 22 consecutive weekends. He will arrive at Bordeaux jail at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and leaves Sunday afternoons.

Prosecutor Cynthia Gyenizse insisted it's more than a slap on the wrist.

"He got a 45 day sentence, with three year probation, with conditions to see and respect all the requirements of that probation officer," said Gyenizse.

At his sentencing hearing in October, prosecutors were arguing for Surkis to be placed on the national sex offender registry, to provide a DNA sample, and that he be forbidden from using computers or going to public parks and other places children congregate.

The judge declined those requests, saying that Surkis did not meet the clinical definition of a pedophile, and agreed that he was unlikely to re-offend.

Surkis will have to accomplish 240 hours of community work, and will be on probation for three years, at which point his restrictions will be dictated by his probabtion officer, said Gyenizse.

Surkis denies interest in child porn

Surkis's collection of child pornography was discovered in 2009 when he brought his computer in for repairs at a Best Buy store.

The technician found nine hours of videos of children as young as six years old being sexually assaulted, and promptly alerted police.

Surkis has denied he's aroused by child porn and justified downloading the files as mere curiosity.

Judge Lamontagne said in her ruling:

"Although the motive of his curiosity is questionable, considering his academic and occupational history, the accused pled guilty, and expressed remorse. He has no previous record, and the risk of recidivism is low."

Overcrowding may see Surkis send home

While he does have to present himself at Bordeaux jail for the next 22 weekends, he may not necessarily spend all those weekends behind bars.

Bordeaux is chronically overcrowded, and as a result many sentenced to spend weekends in jail are sent home instead.