FREDERICTON -- The New Brunswick Court of Appeal has rejected appeals from the Crown and a former city councillor in Saint John convicted of sexually abusing and making pornographic images of boys.

Donnie Snook was sentenced last year to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to 46 charges including sexual assault and possessing, distributing and making child pornography over a span of 12 years.

The crimes involved 17 boys between the ages of five and 15.

In filing his appeal last year, Snook said his sentence was unreasonable and in excess of the appropriate range.

The Crown also appealed, saying the trial judge gave Snook too much credit for time served in pre-trial custody, which reduced his prison term to 16 years and 10 months.

Snook was arrested by the RCMP after an investigation that began in 2011 involving the Saint John and Toronto police.

After his arrest, police seized his computers and discovered more than 15,000 photos and videos of child pornography.