Michael Sona guilty in robocalls trial - but 'did not likely act alone'

Former Conservative staffer Michael Sona has been found guilty of using misleading calls to send Guelph, Ont., voters to the wrong polling station the day ofthe 2011 federal election.

Judge Gary Hearnof Ontario Superior Court saidhe is "fully satisfied" Sona at least aided or abetted those involved in what has become known as therobocallsscandal, though he addedhe believes Sona had help from one or more people.

"The overheard conversations, Mr. Sona'sinquiries of others, the matters set out in the agreed statement of facts and the disclosure in various conversations following May 2, 2011 are all factors that satisfy me beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Sonawas involved with the creation and implementation of the scheme to direct voters to the wrong polling station on May 2, 2011," Hearnwrote in his verdict.

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"Although the evidence indicates he did not likely act alone, he was party to the offence and, as noted previously, there will be a finding of guilt registered."

Hearn found Sona, the only person charged in the case, guilty of one charge under the Elections Act. Sonawill be back in court onOct. 17for a sentencing hearing, shortly after his 26th birthday.

He facesa maximumpenaltyof a$5,000 fine, five years in prison, or both.

Outside the courtin Guelph, Crown prosecutor Croft Michaelson said he was pleased with the verdict and the judge's reasons, but would not directly address Hearn's belief that Sona might not have acted alone.

"We focus on one case at a time," Michaelson said when asked if he expected other trials. "I don't want to comment on what may or may not happen in the future."

Michaelson also would not comment on whether the Crown would seek jail time for Sona.

Sona's lawyer, Norm Boxall, was also asked about the judge's comment that others may have been involved in the scheme. He said the issue would "certainly" be raised at the sentencing hearing.

Boxall said he and his client havenot decided whether to appeal.

"These are obviously difficult personal circumstances. It's extremely stressful for a young person," he said.

The misleading robocalls, which went out to 6,000 voters in the southern Ontario city, were linked to a disposable cellphone registered under the pseudonym PierrePoutine.It is illegal under the Elections Actto interfere with a voter's right to cast a ballot.

Conservatives defend Guelph campaign

The Conservative Party maintains it ran a "clean and ethical" campaign and was not involved in this plot.

"Voter suppression is extremely serious and those responsible should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That's why we reached out to Elections Canada when we heard of wrongdoing in Guelph and did all we could to assist them,"Conservative Party spokesman Cory Hann said in a statement after the verdict.

"We spend our campaigns identifying supporters and working hard to get them out to vote."

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Justice Minister Peter MacKaydeclined to comment on the verdict.

"I really have nothing to add. There was an individual who was identified, charged, brought before the courts. There's really not much more I can say as attorney general," he said.

FrankValeriote, the Liberal MP who handily won re-election in Guelph despite therobocalls, shares the belief that the scheme was much wider than just one junior Tory staffer in a single riding. But he doubts anyone will ever be able to prove it.

"I don't think we'll ever get to the bottom of it,"Valeriotesaid in an interview.

The masterminds of the scheme "choreographed this quite nicelyso that Mr.Sonahas taken the fall,"Valeriotesaid. Moreover, hesaid the Conservative government has thwarted further investigation on this and other cases in future by refusing to give the electionscommissioner the power he sought to compel witness testimony andaccess detailedrobocallrecords.

Craig Scott, NDPcritic for democratic and parliamentary reform, also said he believesthe schemegoes beyond Sona.

"I don't honestly think that people are going to look at the conviction of one person for aiding and abetting and not retain the fact that he must be aiding and abetting other people," he said in an interview with CBC News.

Sonahad been under suspicion since his name surfaced soon after the first media reports surrounding the probe, though investigators didn't zero in on him until later.

Sona worked for the Conservative candidate in Guelph at the time of the calls. The Conservative Party won the 2011 election, but Liberal incumbent Frank Valerioteheld on to his Guelph seat.

In an exchange with CBC News, Michael Sona said he was "fine."

"Still trying to process this," he said.

Before appearing in court this morningSona tweeted a link to a video of the famous final gunfightscene from Sergio Leone'sThe Good, The Bad and The Ugly,with the comment "that feeling."

• On mobile? See Sona's tweet here