Man with knife terrifies stranger and community, says judge

John Tremblay was "brandishing a large kitchen knife" when he walked up to a vehicle at a downtown intersection in the early evening hours of Dec. 5.

The motorist was a "complete stranger" and the young man was seeking money, a judge heard Tuesday

His actions resulted in a "dangerous situation," Ontario Court Justice Dana Peterson said after the 24-year-old pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon.

What occurred not only was "terrifying" for the complainant, but it "creates fear in the community about random acts of violence," she told Tremblay. 

"It does have a strong community impact, a negative one."

Tremblay also pleaded guilty to breach of probation in connection with the incident, which occurred at 6:45 p.m. near the intersection of Foster Drive and Bay Street.

Police arrested him at the Station Mall and he was charged with robbery, prosecutor Blair Hagan said.

When he was on the ground, officers located the knife under his body.

Tremblay was bound by a three-year probation order that prohibited him from possessing weapons.

He was not to have any weapons and he's using a knife "to threaten a complete stranger" in the downtown area, Hagan said, adding "I can't image" how frightening it must have been.

The Crown and defence lawyer Jasmine Gassi Harnden jointly recommended a six-month jail term, which his pre-sentence custody satisfies, followed by two years probation.

Tremblay"s record, which began in 2018, "played a large factor," in the proposed sentence, Hagan said, noting he has numerous convictions that include various forms of assault and violence.

She called his "fairly early plea" a mitigating factor.

Gassi Harnden said her client is Indigenous, doesn't have any family support, and struggles with substance abuse.

Tremblay had been released from jail, was on probation and found himself back in custody six months ago.

"He's disappointed in himself, that he ended back up where he had been when he wanted to turn over a new leaf," the defence said.

Tremblay has mental health issues and has support from the Canadian Mental Health Association.

With CMHA's assistance, "he is ready to make the effort to turn his life around" so he will not be in court again, Gassi Harnden said.

When she imposed the sentence, Peterson cited the need to balance the  aggravating and mitigating factors.

Tremblay"s "record just exploded in 2018" with violence, property offences and breaches of court orders.

In December, he had just finished serving a one-year sentence for robbery and was on a probation order, the judge said.

His guilty pleas, background and drug addiction are mitigating factors.

"You are struggling and and I'm concerned about what's going to happen today when you are released.....with no plan," Peterson told him.

"I'm also concerned about your safety," she said, suggesting it is "a very dangerous time" to be using drugs, "The fatality rate is high."

The judge ordered him to report to probation as soon he was released Tuesday "to get a plan in place."

During his two-year probation, he must take counselling for substance abuse and trauma.

"I hope you build on your sobriety" from the time spent in custody, Peterson said.

She imposed a 10-year weapons prohibition and ordered him to provide a DNA sample.