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Post by peter on Apr 21, 2010 14:30:46 GMT -5
Innisfil Mayor Brian Jackson has pleaded guilty to threatening after an expletive-charged backroom outburst directed at a councillor who opposed him on boundary talks with Barrie and caught on his lapel mike. “He wants everyone to know that he expresses his apologies to Councillor Bill Pring, town council and the people of Innisfil,” Jackson’s lawyer Leslie Kaufman said Tuesday after the mayor appeared in a Bradford courtroom. “He’s remorseful and he now wants to put it all behind him.” An additional charge of assault was withdrawn by Judge J.J Douglas. Although there was a finding of guilt on the threatening charge, Jackson received an absolute discharge, meaning no conviction was registered and he will not have a criminal record. Jackson was also ordered to keep the peace for six months. The incident happened during a break in a June 26, 2009, late-night council meeting that explored issues involving sensitive boundary talks between Innisfil and neighbouring Barrie. Council was discussing servicing the town’s Highway 400 employment lands and expanding the waste-water treatment plant. Pring proposed changes to the negotiating committee, which was in talks with the province over the plans — including dropping Jackson as a member. Jackson called for a brief recess and retreated to the backroom with Pring, where his f-word-laced tirade was clearly heard by witnesses — including local media — through his lapel microphone, which had been left on. Charges of assault and uttering threats were laid by South Simcoe Police after Pring laid a complaint. The incident caused a firestorm in this sleepy bedroom community just south of Barrie, with residents calling for Jackson’s resignation. So far, he has not registered to run again for mayor. Douglas told the court that Jackson’s behaviour was inappropriate for an elected official and that it would be up to the citizens and electorate of Innisfil to decide if there would be any further consequences. Pring’s lawyer, Phil Downes, said his client is “pleased” Jackson has admitted his guilt. Jackson had originally vowed to fight the charges. “Councillor Pring trusts Mr. Jackson will take the judge’s comments to heart,” Downes said outside the court. “And he trusts that this — the threats and intimidation — won’t happen again when they have a disagreement.” Jackson has said he would pay any legal bills stemming from the charges. what a farce not even anger management or probation
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Post by Italia Man on Apr 21, 2010 19:48:36 GMT -5
They got there own rules,we the tax payers always get the shaft.
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Post by nocod on Apr 22, 2010 6:19:58 GMT -5
at least he cares lol.
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Post by peter on Apr 23, 2010 4:29:26 GMT -5
INNISFIL —Mayor Brian Jackson has pleaded guilty to threatening Coun. Bill Pring with bodily harm. Mr. Justice Jon-Jo Douglas gave Jackson an absolute discharge in a Bradford courtroom Tuesday following the guilty plea.
The Crown attorney’s office and Jackson’s defence counsel jointly recommended the absolute discharge, which means Jackson will not have a criminal record. The mayor also submitted to a $1,000, six-month peace bond.
Jackson was charged with assault and uttering threats July 2 in connection with an episode that took place in his office after he called a recess at a June 29 council meeting.
An assault charge laid by South Simcoe Police, which allegedly involved Jackson pushing Pring, was withdrawn as part of a pre-trial plea bargain.
In an agreed statement of facts, the court heard an “enraged” Jackson threatened to hit Pring with a wooden goalie stick that was displayed in the mayor’s office.
Jackson had called Pring and Deputy Mayor Gord Wauchope into his office after Pring made a “surprise motion” in council that called for the mayor to be removed from a key negotiating committee.
Reading from an agreed statement of facts, Crown attorney Frank Faveri said, “Jackson walked by Pring and said, “In my office’. He slammed the door and engaged in a verbal tirade. He was enraged. The mayor forgot to turn off his lapel mic so it was amplified throughout the council chamber. The mayor was yelling and swearing at Pring. He said, ‘What the f… are you up to? Don’t you ever do that again.”
Faveri added Pring remembers Jackson saying, “What the f… are you trying to do to me Pring?”
“Then (Jackson) motioned to a wooden goalie stick and threatened to harm Pring with it,” Faveri told the court. “(Witnesses) said it was extremely out of character for Jackson. They had never seen him so angry. His fists were clenched by his side, he was shaking and he had bright red face.”
Wauchope had to tell the mayor to calm down because he feared the situation would escalate, Faveri said.
Jackson offered an apology when he addressed Justice Douglas.
“I offer my deepest regrets for the incident and extend by apologies to my council colleagues and the residents of Innisfil,” Jackson said. “It was an unfortunate circumstance.”
Jackson’s lawyer Leslie Kaufman said the case has caused the mayor and his wife “immense stress”.
“It has weighed heavily on him for the last 10 months,” she told the court. “It was incredibly difficult and embarrassing.”
The situation has also taken a toll on Jackson’s health, she said.
“The last time it came up in court he spent the entire day in emergency due to the stress,” Kaufman said. “It has caused him incredible stress every time it is in court.”
Justice Douglas agreed an absolute discharge “was in the best interests of all parties involved.”
“The accused had always wished to resolve this and was prepared to take it on the chin,” Justice Douglas said. “You took the position that you would admit to your wrong-doing in a public place.”
Justice Douglas credited several pre-trial meetings and mediation sessions between Jackson and Pring for leading the Crown and defence to a joint recommendation for an absolute discharge.
Justice Douglas said he was “most concerned” that Jackson’s actions may have affected the democratic process.
“Politics is a blood sport. It is loud … and vociferous,” he told Jackson. “But you crossed the line of vigorous debate by doing something that was by its very nature criminal.”
Justice Douglas said the criminal court process that shined a light on the incident ensured that “democracy was not undone, but perhaps improved.”
Pring, who was not in court Tuesday, declined the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement.
Phil Downes, Pring’s lawyer, observed the proceedings but did not offer any comment to the court.
Outside the courthouse, he told The Journal the outcome will please Pring.
“He will be happy that Mr. Jackson has publicly acknowledged the threats against him,” Downes said. “He trusts that the process will ensure that Mr. Jackson respects the democratic process.”
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Post by peter on Apr 23, 2010 4:33:41 GMT -5
Pring questions Jackson's leadership
Mayor Brian Jackson should have resigned while he was facing assault and threatening charges, according to councillor Bill Pring. "Jackson's actions since this incident occurred leave many unanswered questions in my mind, as to whether or not (he) possesses the character and ability to run the town," said Pring, in a written statement, which was released to media prior to Wednesday evening's council meeting. "It is regrettable that the mayor did not see fit to resign his position on council, the (South Simcoe) Police Services Board and Innisfil Hydro when the charges were laid." The statement was released about a day after Jackson plead guilty to threatening Pring with bodily harm, in relation to an incident that took place at the New Town Hall last June. As part of the plea, Jackson received an absolute discharge, will avoid a criminal record and faces a $1,000, six-month peace bond. Although Jackson has apologized to town residents and council for his conduct, he has yet to directly make amends with Pring, according to the councillor's lawyer, Phil Downes. However, Pring hopes the incident will actually improve the relationship between Jackson and town council. "The mayor should appreciate that councillors will not be intimidated by threatening or abusive conduct of any sort," said Pring. "I hope that this incident will result in the mayor being more respective to all members of council, both in his conduct and approach to council's role as representatives of the public we all serve." Jackson declined comment on the statement, and has send a copy to his lawyer for review.
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Post by peter on Apr 23, 2010 5:02:20 GMT -5
“(Witnesses) said it was extremely out of character for Jackson," said Crown attorney Frank Faveri, according to court documents. "They had never seen him so angry. His fists were clenched by his side, he was shaking and he had a bright red face.”
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Post by bellybuster on Apr 27, 2010 7:25:04 GMT -5
I am not from Innisfil but I am shocked that the town's people have not demanded his resignation. An elected official has a legal and moral obligation to maintain the behaviour that electors expect. Cross that line and you are no longer what was elected in the first place and no longer deserve the "priveledge" of serving
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Post by admin on Apr 28, 2010 4:53:53 GMT -5
Councillor "relieved" mayor admitted threat INNISFIL — Coun. Bill Pring says he is “relieved” Mayor Brian Jackson has “finally” pleaded guilty in a 10-month-old case that saw the mayor charged with assaulting and threatening the 69-year-old councillor. An assault charge was dropped when Jackson, 60, pleaded guilty April 20 to threatening Pring with bodily harm.
Pring handed local media a written statement following a council meeting that Jackson presided over about six hours after he appeared in court.
Mr. Justice Jon-Jo Douglas gave Jackson an absolute discharge after the Crown and defence recommended it as the appropriate penalty. Jackson avoided a criminal record.
“He has been found guilty of a serious Criminal Code offence as part of a “plea bargain” and has been given a sentence at the lowest end of the range of penalties for his conduct. That is not unusual for a person in his position, but this outcome recognizes that I was the victim …,” Pring’s statement read.
Contacted by the Journal, Jackson said he did not want to comment and has purposely avoided reading Pring’s prepared statement.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to respond,” Jackson said Monday. “I did not read the statement at all. I’m not going to be responding at this time.”
Jackson’s guilty plea centres on a threat to harm Pring with a wooden goalie stick that was on display in the mayor’s office.
The incident, which included Jackson swearing at Pring while they were behind closed doors during a council recess, was partially broadcast back into the council chambers.
In his statement, Pring criticized Jackson for not resigning as mayor or giving up his posts on the police services board and Innisfil Hydro after he was charged July 2.
“Jackson’s actions since this incident occurred on June 24, 2009 leave many unanswered questions in my mind as to whether or not Mr. Jackson possesses the character and ability to run the Corporation of the Town of Innisfil,” Pring’s statement reads. “It is regrettable that the Mayor did not see fit to resign .. as I believe he should have done.”
Jackson eventually gave up the police services board seat in November, which was filled by Coun. Rod Boynton.
In the statement, Pring says the fact Jackson was found guilty shows “councillors such as myself will not be intimidated by threatening or abusive conduct of any sort.”
“I hope that this incident will result in the Mayor being more respective to all members of Council both in his conduct and in his approach to Council’s role as representatives of the public we all serve,” the statements says.
Pring also stated he stands by the position he took during a June 24 council meeting that sparked the mayor’s tirade and threats.
Pring had attempted to remove Jackson from a key negotiating committee that was trying to get infrastructure funding from the province in the wake of Barrie’s annexation last year.
“The incident arose out of a debate about the attitude the Province has taken in the Barrie annexation situation. I remain of the view that a better deal should have been achieved for the people of Innisfil,” Pring’s statement read.
Jackson offered an apology during last week’s court appearance.
“I offer my deepest regrets for the incident and extend by apologies to my council colleagues and the residents of Innisfil,” Jackson said. “It was an unfortunate circumstance.”
While Pring is not seeking re-election in October, Jackson has yet to announce his political intentions.
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