Tuscany LRT graffiti offender apologizes to Muslims, Syrians

The Calgary man whospray-painted hateful, racist graffiti on a Calgary LRT station in December because he was "mad at ISIS" told the court he was sorryduring his sentencing hearing Wednesday.

"Since being incarcerated, I have changed my views," saidKyle McKenzie, who pleaded guilty in March to charges of mischief over $5,000 and inciting hatred."[I] no longer feel a hate toward Muslim or Syrian people.

"I would also like to apologize to the Syrian and Muslim community for writing hateful, ignorant messages."

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The Crown is asking McKenzie serve an 18-month sentence, minus 1.5 credit for the time he's already served. A two- to three-year probationary period and 300 hours of community service was also proposed.

"The accused expressed his hatred to a vulnerable group," said prosecutorRajbir Dhillon. "We all cherish freedom of expression ... but only to a point.

"There's an expression 'if someone tells you who they are, you should believe them.' Mr. MacKenzie has told us he's a racist by spray painting his message for the public to see."

Defence is asking fortime served:nine months with enhanced credit.

Mad at ISIS, says offender

"I did all of the tagging as I was mad at ISIS because they shot up the people of Paris and I am French Canadian," McKenzie told police after he was arrested, according to a court document.

"I don't hate all Muslims, but I do hate what ISIS stands for."

Miguel Lavergne is also charged in connection with the incident but only faces mischief charges.

McKenzie told police he did all of the tagging andthatLavergne was with him, but did not participate.

Two men were seenon video surveillanceentering the Tuscanystation around5:45 p.m. on Dec. 3 and using gold spray paint to writemessages throughout the station, on aC-Train carand on five private vehicles parked outside.

Lavergne and McKenzie werearresteddays later.

$20,000 in damages

Police classified the vandalismas a hate-motivated crime, as the spray-painted comments were disparaging to Syrian refugees and Muslims.

The often misspelledmessages included swastikas andwhite-power symbols and some urged readers to "kill" Muslims and Syrians, making the incident a cut-and-driedhatecrime in the eyes of investigators.

Total damage was estimated to be more than $20,000, according to police.

McKenzie also pleaded guilty on Wednesday to mischief and breaching probation stemming from an incident at a Canadian Tire in December2013 when he caused a scene bydrunkenly throwing displays around.

MacKay and Dhillon agreed he should serve three months in jail for those offences.

Judge Allan Fradsham will hand down McKenzie's sentence on July 15.