The editor of a Toronto-based publication Your Ward News was sentences to one year in jail today Thursday, August 22, 2019 after being found guilty of promoting hatred against women and Jews in his publication.
The free publication was distributed to more than 300,000 residences and businesses in the Toronto area over a 3 year period and also published online.
Richard Blouin, the Ontario Judge that sentences James Sears said he would have rather handed down a stiffer sentence if the law had permitted.
Richard Blouin said:
“It is impossible, in my view, to conclude that Mr. Sears … should receive a sentence of any less than 18 months in jail,” Blouin said. “Mr. Sears … promoted hate to a vast audience in an era where online exposure to this material inexorably leads to extremism and the potential of mass casualties.”
During the trial, Judge Blouin rejected James Sears’ arguments that his lawyer had thrown the case against him. His attorney stated that he was proud of the work he did for Sears.
The Crown attorney on the case was seeking the maximum of six months on each count for a total one year.
The Crown also sought to have the Your Ward News publication banned but denied the request on the grounds that it would violate his constitutional right to free expression.
James reportedly told his wife as he was walking out of the courtroom not to worry.
The courtroom did have a few people that supported James of whom exclaimed that the sentencing was “not right”.
In January of 2019, Blouin found Sears and his co-publisher LeRoy St. Germaine who is 77, guilty of two hate counts each.
Noah Shack who represents the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said the sentence was a moment of justice and that those who promote hatred “must be held accountable.”
Shack also said. “What starts with words can often lead to violence.”
