Dr. Benjamin Levin is now free on bail, but facing child exploitation charges, he can never be truly free again.

A renowned educator who lectured around the world, had the ear of several high ranking Liberals, a prestigious research chair, even a brother who is ambassador to Cuba; how easily a distinguished life can implode, 61 years of a good name instantly besmirched, with the laying of seven charges that include allegations by Toronto Police that he authored graphic child porn and counselled someone online on how to commit a sexual assault on a child.

Dressed in a blue sports shirt and black pants, the married father of three daughters looked relieved when Justice Fergus ODonnell released him Wednesday on $100,000 bail posted by his two sureties, brother Martin Levin, the former books editor at the Globe and Mail, and Richard Levin, the registrar at the University of Toronto.

A third brother, Matthew, is posted in Cuba where he is Canada’s ambassador.

The Winnipeg native seemed overwhelmed at times, burying his face in his hands, as he listened to his two brothers being questioned as potential sureties during the lengthy bail hearing, which was covered by a publication ban. In the end, the judge agreed he could be released to live under the watchful guardianship of his elder brother, Martin, but he can return home with his wife’s consent once she returns to the city. Outside the court, noted defence lawyer Clayton Ruby said Levin’s wife is currently out of town on a canoe trip.

What a shock awaits the poor woman.

Almost equal to the shock that must have reverberated through academic and Liberal circles after news of his arrest early Monday morning at his home near Lawrence Ave. and Avenue Rd. Levin, currently a tenured professor at U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, was a former deputy minister of education in the Dalton McGuinty government and a former member of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s transition team. In a recent CP24 video from Toronto’s Pride parade, he is seen with Wynne, current federal Liberal golden boy Justin Trudeau and former interim leader Bob Rae.

How quickly will they all scurry? There is little more toxic than these kind of allegations.

“I was shocked to hear about these charges through the news on Monday,” Wynne said in a statement late Wednesday. “Insidious crimes like these are absolutely terrifying. The safety and well-being of our children has always been my absolute priority and at no time did I have any suspicion of criminal behaviour. I am confident that the police and judicial system will address these serious allegations.”

Following an international online probe that police said was sparked by undercover child exploitation investigators in New Zealand, Levin initially faced face charges at his first court appearance on Monday: two counts of distributing child pornography and one count each of making child pornography, counselling to commit an indictable offence and agreeing to or arranging for a sexual offence against a child under 16.

Two new charges of possessing and accessing child porn were added at the start of his North York bail hearing Wednesday. In a press release listing the new counts, Toronto Police also said “there may be more victims” and urged people to come forward with any information.

After spending two embarrassing nights behind bars, Levin was released under a long list of conditions: he’s not allowed to access the Internet except at his U of T office through the monitored university server. He is not to use social media or any video or phone messaging. He can’t knowingly be in the presence or communicate with anyone under 16 or be near pools or schools.

Levin has to surrender his travel documents and can only leave the province to visit his elderly father in Winnipeg.

Ruby said his client has made an enormous contribution to the province’s education system and he intends to “work very hard” to prove Levin’s innocence. He returns to court Aug. 8.

A trial is probably at least 18 months away, but even if Levin is eventually acquitted, the damage is already done. The linking of an educator to the alleged abuse of children? There could be no more resounding death knell for a once illustrious career.