Teen in racist graffiti case won't be sentenced as adult, judge rules

A judge has denied a request to have a teen sentenced as an adult after he pleaded guilty to fivecharges stemming from a spate of racist graffiti incidents in 2016.

The teenwho cannot be named because he was a minor at the time of the offencespleaded guilty in February toinciting hatred, mischief against religious buildings, threatening conduct, weapon possession and breachingconditions imposed aftera previous conviction.

Between Nov. 13 and 19, 2016, the teenspray-painted racistslurs and symbols on two synagogues, a Jewish prayer house, a mosque and a church whose minister is black.

He turned 18 soon after the offences took place.

• Racist graffiti spray-painted on Parkdale United Church, Ottawa Muslim Association
• Anti-Semitic graffiti spray-painted on Machzikei Hadas synagogue
• Ottawa woman wakes to find anti-Semitic graffiti spray-painted on her home

After the teen's guilty plea, Crown prosecutorMoiz Karimjeeasked Ontario Court Justice Peter Griffiths to consider sentencing him as an adult, with the aimofmaximizinghis access to treatment to deal with his racist ideology, increasingthe ability to monitor his movements, and designating him a long-term offender.

Griffithsdenied that request in court Monday as the teen's sentencing hearing resumed.

Signs of progress

Karimjeeargued the teen is showing signs thathisracist ideologyhas not changed,exemplified by a fight he had with a Muslim youth while they were both in custody inJune.

But in court Monday,Griffiths said the teen has shownsigns of progress thatrisks being undermined if he's sentenced as anadult.The teenapparently told counsellors he'sinterested in finding out how to remove racist tattoos from his body, expressed an interest in mental health counselling, andhasshown progress in paid vocational training whileincustody.

If he weresentenced as an adult, he would also lose the connections he'smade with youth counsellors at the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa's William E. Hay Centrein Ottawa.

The public is best protected if the teen's rehabilitation isencouraged,Griffithstold court.

'I hope it's genuine'

The teen cast his eyes to the floor during most of the judge's decision.

His father, who has attended each day of the hearing, looked genuinely relieved with the result.

Rev. Anthony Bailey, whose church was targeted during the week-long racist spree, shook hands with the teen's father as he left the court room.

Outside, Bailey said the youth described by the judge is not the same person he met soon after the teen's arrest.

At that time Bailey spent an hour with the teen and offeredhim a chance at restorative justice,an alternativeform of sentencingthat includes meeting with victims. The teen refused.

"My hope is that it's a genuine change of heart and desire to grow," said Baileyoutside the courtroom Monday. He added he hoped the progress noted by the judge wasn't just a "ploy" to avoid being sentenced as an adult.

Jewish federation 'disappointed'

"We're disappointed with the outcome," said Andrea Freedman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

She described the hate spree as a "week of terror" that hada significant impact on Ottawa's Jewish community.

"It was frightening for people, in particular Holocaust survivors for whom it evoked some terrible, terrible memories," she said.

Final sentencing argumentswill take place Aug. 28. The teen could also be sentenced on that date.