'Ring leader' of Locke Street vandals gets jail time as 5 plead guilty

A group of people who were part ofa vandalism spree on Locke Streetin March have pleaded guilty for their roles in the flurry of mischief.

Local anarchist and activist Cedar Hopperton pleaded guilty before the Ontario Court of Justice in Hamilton Thursday morning to one count of mischief over $5,000 and one count of counseling to commit mischief.

Following a joint submission by his lawyer and the Crown,Hoppertonwas sentenced to a year in custody, less four months for time served, which will be followed by a year of probation.

"See you all soon, take care of each other," said the 31-year-old on the wayout of the courtroom.

"Love you," responded supporters.

Hoppertonwas described in court as the "ring leader" of a crowd ofmasked group of 15-40 people whopeltedbuildings and vehicles with eggs and rocks and had earlier in the day invited people to attend a "militant and confrontational march."

According the Crown and avictim impact statement read in court, the crowd was interpreted by those in the neighbourhood as a violent mob that left people afraid and shaken.

Tammy Kovich, who the court heard handed out flyers advertising the demonstration, pleaded guilty to one count of mischief over $5,000. She wasgiven a nine-month conditional sentence which will be broken down into three month chunks made up of house arrest, curfew and terms, along with 12 months of probation.

MatthewLowell-Pelletier and DavidPrychitkaalso pleaded guilty to mischief over $5,000. They were sentenced to 18 months probation and100 hours of community service.

A fifth participant, TylerNadeau, pleaded guilty to two counts of mischief over $5,000 but wasnot sentenced Thursday. A pre-sentence report has been requested and he'll be back before the court for sentencing on Feb. 5.

Barred from Locke Street

Conditions for all of the accused include being barred from the section of Locke Street South between Main Street and Aberdeen Avenue. They're also not allowed to participate or organize any sort of protest unless it remains peaceful.

Defence lawyers for the accused and the Crown clashed over whether or not an order to provide DNA be part of sentencing, with the defencelawyers arguing it amounted to an unnecessaryinvasion of privacy.

In the end, Justice JoeFiorucciruled only Hoppertonwould have to provide DNA, referencing the fact the Hamilton resident was previously arrested during the G20protests in 2010 and pleaded guilty to one count of counsellingmischief.

Hopperton was also ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution to the victims, while the other three will have to pay $1,000 each.

'Because F--k the Rich'

Hoppertonwas the organizer and promoter behind an anarchist bookfairheld at Westdale Secondary School over the weekend of March 3-4 2018, according to an agreedstatement of facts read in court.

The statementsays thatduring the book fair, and later that day,Hopperton and Kovichhanded outa flyer titled 'Because F--k the Rich" that stated "Hamilton has been beset upon by a plague of gentrifying yuppies. Let's show those f--ks what we think of them" and advised of "... a militant and confrontational march, [so] dress appropriately."

This was mischief witha message.Be afraid, we are ungovernable, you can't stop us.- GordonAkilie, assistant Crown attorney

The flyer included a map of Durand Park.

Court heard police were called to the park around 9:34 p.m. after reports of a large group of people who were spray painting public property. After officers arrived, members of the group, including some who had broughtstereo equipment, cartons of eggs and fireworks, started to break away.

The statement of facts says police tried to speak with the group, but members left the park and headed up Bay Street and blocked. Hoppertonthen told the group to "mask up" and people started picking up bricks and other projectiles.

Kovich and Prychitkawere among those firing off fireworks, according to the statement.

Members of the group, including Lowell-Pelletier, werecarrying a large, black banner with the words "WE ARE THE UNGOVERNABLE."

As the group headed along Aberdeen Avenue and turned onto Locke Street, the statement saysNadeauvandalized vehicles andthrew a rock through a window atDonutMonster, leading others to shatter the shop's remaining windows.

He also hurled rocks through the windows of Bitten Cupcakes,"directed" others by picking targets and told peoplewhere they could find rocks and other projectiles, according to the statement.

Once enough police arrived to take on the crowd, its members fled,"shedding layers of clothing in an effort to evade police."

'Mischief with a message'

"This was mischief witha message," Crown Gordon Akilie said in court.

Their message was, 'Be afraid, we are ungovernable, you can't stop us, in fact you won't find us.'

Akilie said "This was an attack on the rule of law, an affront to citizen's ability to feel safe."

But the defence lawyers for the accused, including Craig Bottomley who represented Hopperton, argued they were motivated by social justice and characterizedthe incidentas an attack on property, not people.

Bottomleyalso described the vandalism as a "political expression" that crossed into criminality.

While reading his decision,Fioruccireferenced a victim impact statement fromTony Greco, chair of the Locke Street BIA.

It described the neighbourhood as "inclusive and welcoming" and said the spree of vandalism by what Greco called a "mob" had created fear in the community.