This Week's Global Pervs and Perverts List > OPP Paid nearly $1mn in Salary since suspended for rape, drug dealing, assaults

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There is something seriously wrong when the Ontario Provincial Police can't fire a cop with his record.

OPP officer found guilty of sexually assaulting unconscious woman

and filming it

Witnesses say Const. Jason Redmond did it to show the victim

'how easily she could be raped' when drunk

Avanthika Anand · CBC News · 

Posted: Apr 01, 2023 1:00 AM PDT | Last Updated: April 1

OPP Const. Jason Redmond was convicted of sexual assault. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

WARNING: This article contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

A judge has found that Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Const. Jason Redmond sexually assaulted an unconscious woman while recording it on his mobile phone, and heard from witnesses that Redmond did it to show the victim "how easily she could be raped when she was drunk," and "to teach [her] a lesson."

In a two-day, judge-only trial at a Brockville courthouse last August, Justice Janet O'Brien heard Crown witness testimonies that she recounted when delivering her decision earlier this year, a court transcript obtained by CBC News shows. Redmond was convicted of sexual assault.

The judge read in her ruling that according to one witness, Redmond was "proving a point" to the victim that she had a drinking problem, and "he made the video to show that anybody could rape her."

Paid Leave since 2015

Redmond was previously convicted of drug trafficking in 2018 but received only one year of probation and no jail time. He has been on paid leave from the OPP since he was charged in that case in 2015.

3 OPP officers charged after 18-month drug trafficking investigation

In Oct. 2021, Redmond was arrested and charged with sexual assault, according to the OPP. In an emailed statement, the OPP said it did not issue a press release informing the public of the charge at the time "in an effort to protect the identity of the victim." Redmond pleaded not guilty.

The final ruling was delivered on Feb. 16, just over five years after the assault happened.

'He thought it was funny'

The court transcript shows that justice O'Brien heard about the assault and the video from five witnesses, including the victim and others in Redmond's inner circle.

CBC News is not naming the victim or the witnesses in this case, as the victim's identity and some of the circumstances surrounding the sexual assault are protected by a publication ban.

CBC News is not naming the victim or the witnesses in this case, as the victim's identity and some of the circumstances surrounding the sexual assault are protected by a publication ban. (Cort Sloan/CBC)

According to the court transcript, the judge found that the assault took place in December 2017, after the victim "consumed a large amount of alcohol to the point of extreme intoxication." The court also heard that both the victim and Redmond had used cocaine several times that day.

"[She] lost consciousness either because she went to sleep or as a result of the effects of alcohol, or a combination of these," the judge said.

According to the judge, Redmond told the victim the next day that "he had sexual intercourse with her while she was passed out, that she wasn't aware of it, and that he had recorded it on his phone," and held his phone out to show her.

Justice O'Brien recalled the victim testifying that she was embarrassed she couldn't remember what had happened, so she pushed his hand away, did not watch the video and went about her day as normal.

Shortly after, several people in Redmond's inner circle became aware that the video existed, including those who testified in court.

Three witnesses, not including the victim, said they learned about the video directly from Redmond, who tried to show it to them. Another witness claimed to have unintentionally found the video.

The judge said she heard from one witness who said when Redmond told them about the video, they "thought at first it was a joke because [he] was kind of laughing."

"He appeared to find what he had done funny and was making fun of [the victim]."

Another witness testified that on a different occasion, Redmond said he was "teaching [the victim] a lesson," and laughed about a member of his inner circle finding and watching the video.

The witness who found the video told the court that when they confronted Redmond about it, he said "he did it to teach [the victim] a lesson about how easily she could be raped when she was drunk."

In his defence, court transcripts show that Redmond said none of the Crown witnesses were credible or reliable, including the victim who was "drinking excessively" at the time of the incident. According to the judge, Redmond also brought up how no video was shown to the court, despite several witnesses testifying to its existence. 

OPP seeking dismissal

In an emailed statement, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said the police force has been seeking dismissal of Redmond since his initial conviction of drug trafficking in 2018.

"This behaviour is unacceptable for any police officer and cannot be tolerated," Carrique wrote.

Carrique explained that the OPP's Professional Standards Unit laid charges under the Police Services Act shortly after Redmond's initial conviction.

He was then convicted on the charges, and the adjudicator for the case ordered that Redmond be dismissed from the OPP but denied a request to avoid automatically staying the conviction and penalty if appealed.

Redmond has been collecting his salary from the OPP since 2015 while suspended on paid leave. (CBC)

The OPP wrote that the dismissal ruling was immediately appealed by Redmond, which has allowed him to continue to collect his salary for the last seven and a half years while being suspended on paid leave.

The appeal is now the subject of a hearing on June 15, before the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

Why did it take 5 years to hear an appeal?

Redmond's name was included on the 2021 Ontario Sunshine List, which is annually published by the province and publicly discloses the names of all public sector employees who earned $100,000 or more.

According to the list, Redmond made $121,047.96 that year.

According to OPP, Redmond is still before the court "facing 17 additional serious criminal charges including assault, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and others in connection with multiple victims."

He's set to appear before the court for sentencing in this case on April 14.

The Police Association of Ontario, which is the official provincial representative of 45 police associations across the province, told CBC in an emailed statement that it does not condone criminal conduct of any kind, by anyone.

"This case is disturbing and we're glad to see the individual will be held responsible," a spokesperson wrote.

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Today's Global Pervs and Paedos List > US Olympic Fencers in Pink; Bradford UK Perv; OPP Indicted for Child Sex Abuse in USA

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US fencers ‘wear pink in protest’ at teammate separated from

 Olympic squad over accusations by multiple women of sexual misconduct

31 Jul, 2021 08:46

US fencers appear to have made a statement against one of their own squad members © Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

A US fencer who was given a "safety plan" to "keep him away from all women at the Olympic Village" appears to have been ostracized by his teammates wearing pink – with one of his accusers saying one case should have ruled him out.

American fencing bosses are said to have made Alen Hadzic fly to the Tokyo Olympics on his own, stay in a separate hotel and train on his own after athletes "expressed concerns for their safety and well-being arising from [his] presence".

The alternate on the US men's epee team, who has repeatedly denied all of the allegations made against him, was suspended by the US Center for SafeSport in June after three women accused him of sexual assault on three different occasions, only to overturn that decision via an appeal later that month.

Now three of his teammates – Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald and Yeisser Ramirez – have shown what an American reporter described as "disdain" for Hadzic by wearing pink, which has become an increasing trend among athletes who want to subtly share their views or raise awareness of issues they feel strongly about.

“I think one case is enough for you to not be allowed to compete at the ******* Olympics,” one of Hadzic's accusers was quoted as anonymously telling USA Today.

“It really makes you question how far someone needs to go in order for them not to be able to compete.’’

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee imposed the sanctions on Hadzic.

In an email apparently obtained by the outlet, USA Fencing CEO Kris Ekeren is said to have explained to Hadzic that competitors felt his presence was "likely to adversely affect their mental and emotional abilities to prepare and compete at the highest levels required for success in the Olympic Games".

“Several have asked that USA Fencing put measures in place to keep them safe and minimize distractions from training and competition," she added, according to the report.

"Accordingly, USA Fencing, in conjunction with the USOPC, will implement a safety plan for the upcoming Olympic Games.”

Some have accused SafeSport, which was set up to investigate claims of sexual abuse around the Americans' Olympic programs, of failing athletes.

There have also been unfavorable comparisons between the way Hadzic has been treated and the exclusion of sprint star Sha'Charri Richardson for a positive cannabis test, with the Guardian claiming there had been "differing treatment of a black female athlete and a white male" that demonstrated "the double standards that permeate sport".

In a lengthy timeline investigation of Hadzic's past, Buzzfeed claimed one Olympic fencer had told them that the 29-year-old had been "protected again and again" and spoke to an accuser who called him a "predator".

“We are p*ssed off that this is even a thing we had to deal with,” they were quoted as saying from Tokyo.

Another reportedly recalled: “He made my life a living hell at Columbia because he was extremely emotionally and psychologically abusive.

“At the time, nothing could be done. We were all so helpless in the situation because he just continues to get what he wants because he is a really fantastic fencer.”

Hadzic has labeled the allegations "untruths". His attorney, Michael Palma, has insisted that the athlete has never committed any acts of sexual assault.

The backup did not compete in his nation's 45-39 defeat to Japan, which sealed ninth place for the US in the competition.

Bradford, UK paedophile jailed after abusing girl, 8, for five years

huddersfieldexaminer

A vile paedophile who sexually abused a young girl for five years has been jailed.

Nigha Hussain was around 22 at the time that the incidents began in 1995 when his victim was just eight-years-old.

A nine-day trail heard that he began exposing himself in front of the girl on several occasions in Bradford for a period of five years.

The abuse stopped in 2000 and the brave victim came forward to report it to West Yorkshire Police in 2014.

Hussain, now 48, of Court Road, Birmingham, was charged with seven counts of indecent assault, three counts of attempted rape of a child and indecency with a child.

At a hearing at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday July 29 he was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison for the attempted rape of a child after a jury found an unanimous guilty verdict, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Hussain was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

West Yorkshire Police Investigating Officer Deborah Thornes said: “The actions of Hussain had a lasting impact on the victim, which is why she decided to come forward many years later and report what he had done, and I’d like to commend her bravery for doing so.

“Although his crimes were committed years ago, it does not diminish the severity of his actions, and I am glad that he has been brought to justice and will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars. It’s a small price to pay on the lasting impact his actions had on this victim.

“I would encourage anyone who has been subject to this type of behaviour to please contact West Yorkshire Police, you will be listened to, and we will do our utmost to bring the perpetrator to justice.”

Kenora OPP officer to face trial in U.S. for alleged sex abuse of girls

Brady John Hillis faces potential 30-year mandatory sentence

CBC News · 

Posted: Aug 03, 2021 5:00 AM CT

The girls were allegedly abused while vacationing with their families at Fortune Bay Resort Casino in Minnesota. (Fortune Bay Resort Casino)

A Kenora OPP officer will face trial in the U.S. on charges of sexually abusing two Indigenous girls at a resort on the Bois Forte Indian Reservation in Minnesota. 

A U.S. federal grand jury formally indicted Brady John Hillis, 32, last week in connection with complaints made by girls age seven and nine who vacationed with their parents at the Fortune Bay Resort Casino in 2018. 

Hillis is charged with U.S. federal crimes including aggravated sexual abuse of a child under 12, which carries a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison.

Hillis made his initial court appearance in Minnesota on Friday, acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk said in a statement. 

In June, Hillis lost a bid in Ontario's Court of Appeal to have the decision by Canadian officials to surrender him to the U.S reviewed. 

Hillis has been on suspension from the OPP under the requirements of Ontario's Police Services Act. 

The alleged abuse happened in the span of about an hour on June 22, 2018, court documents say.

Hillis is accused of offering the nine-year-old girl money in exchange for touching her at an arcade. 

The seven-year-old alleged he abused her at a resort pool, court documents said. 

The incidents were first reported to resort security, who called police. Eventually, the FBI handled the case.

Hillis was released and allowed to return to Canada. He immediately notified his OPP superiors, the appeals court said. 

Extradition fight

Canada's justice minister ordered him to surrender for extradition in May 2020. Hillis initially fought the application on the grounds it was an abuse of process but a judge dismissed it. 

Canada's pathetic justice system

He then sought to have the justice minister's decision reviewed, arguing the sentence he could receive in the U.S. was out of line with what he'd get in Canada, where the maximum sentence for sexual interference is 14 years. 

While that charge does technically carry a one-year mandatory minimum, it has been struck down by the courts as being in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Brady Hillis is currently on suspension from the OPP under the rules set out in Ontario's Police Services Act. (CBC)

As well, Hillis raised concerns about being subjected to what's called "civil commitment" in the U.S., where the state can indefinitely detain mentally ill sex offenders after their sentences end on the grounds they are "sexually dangerous to others." 

However, the Canadian government said it was given assurances the U.S. would not invoke the civil commitment procedure for Hillis and he'd be sent back to Canada. 

As well, the U.S. said it wouldn't object to Hillis or the Canadian government requesting he be transferred back to Canada to serve the balance of his sentence, as long as it's made two years before it ends. 

The appeals court found the minister's decision to extradite Hillis was reasonable, despite the potential disparities in penalties between the two countries. 

"The minister was well aware of the nature and extent of the disparity and of its importance to his surrender decision. He took steps to obtain assurances to reduce that disparity," Justice David Watt wrote. 

No trial dates have been set in Hillis' case and he is presumed innocent.

Rape - A Hard Sell to Police in Northern Ontario

Sudbury police, OPP to review sexual assault complaints deemed 'unfounded'

1/3 of sexual assault complaints in northeastern Ontario

labeled 'unfounded' by police

CBC News

An investigation by the Globe and Mail has found that one in five sexual assault complaints are dismissed by police as "unfounded." In Greater Sudbury, the rate is 33 per cent over the last five years. 

An investigation by the Globe and Mail has found that one in five sexual assault complaints are dismissed by police as "unfounded." In Greater Sudbury, the rate is 33 per cent over the last five years. (Shutterstock)

Police forces in Sudbury and across northern Ontario are reviewing sexual assault cases after an investigation by the Globe and Mail.

It revealed, through two years of interviews and hundreds of freedom of information requests, that one in five complaints are labelled as unfounded by Canadian police forces and the rate is closer to one in three in northern Ontario.

The numbers show that between 2010 and 2014, 314 of the 939 sexual assault complaints called into Sudbury police were deemed "unfounded," representing 33 per cent.

Greater Sudbury police say a "comprehensive review" is now being done into sexual assault investigations, including an "in-depth analysis of the factors contributing to cases that are deemed unfounded."

Because of that review, Sudbury police are not commenting directly on the Globe's findings.

But Detective Sergeant Jordan Buchanan says in their department, "unfounded" means investigators have concluded that the alleged assault never happened.

When asked how he feels about the Globe's headline question, 'Will police believe you?' or the activist catchphrase, 'We believe victims', Buchanan suggests it misses the point.

"There may be a time when a victim gives a statement that the officer doesn't believe. Doesn't close the investigation though," he says.

'Are you sure you didn't consent?'

Lynzy Boeswald-Lalande, who leads talks and training sessions on sexual assault in Sudbury, says the number of cases labeled unfounded is more disturbing, considering that only 10 per cent of sexual assaults are reported in the first place.

She says she often hears from women whose complaint did not lead to charges.

"It's often 'we can't prove it.' It's usually that term that they use. Or, it's a he said she said. Or, 'are you sure you didn't consent?'" she says.

For the North Bay police, The Globe and Mail found that 44 per cent of sexual assault complaints were deemed unfounded between 2010 and 2014. It was 29 per cent for Sault Ste. Marie and 30 per cent in Timmins.

The northern detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police were mostly in the one-third range, with 30 per cent in Kirkland Lake and 35 per cent in Temiskaming, for example.

Sergeant Peter Leon says the OPP is now doing a detachment-by-detachment review of these cases.

"The OPP takes any allegation of sexual assault and violence seriously, but again we recognize that these occurrences are complex in nature to investigate," Leon says.

Canadian Sentenced to Prison Indefinitely After Deemed Dangerous Offender

'There will never be a time when it will be safe

to release' Shayne Lund into community,

Ontario judge says

By Shannon Martin, CBC News 

    On Wednesday, Orillia, Ont., resident Shayne Lund was labelled a dangerous offender. (CBC)

An Orillia, Ont., man who pleaded guilty to molesting children as young as two years old has been labelled a dangerous offender and sentenced to prison indefinitely.

Shayne Lund, 25, pleaded guilty to 34 of the 100 charges he initially faced when arrested in 2013.

In approving the dangerous offender application, Justice Joseph Kenkel said Wednesday morning that the Crown proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Lund is a high risk to reoffend.

Shortly after noon, Kenkel sentenced Lund to indefinite incarceration. The sentence will be reviewed by the Parole Board of Canada in four years, as outlined in the Criminal Code.

"There will never be a time when it will be safe to release Mr. Lund into the community," Kenkel said in handing down his sentence in a Barrie courtroom.

Dangerous offender

Earlier Wednesday, Kenkel labelled Lund a dangerous offender. As that finding was read out, Lund's supporters — including his father Mark, a former Ontario Provincial Police officer — started sobbing. Mark Lund has also been charged with obstruction of justice in the case.

Shayne Lund, wearing black-framed glasses and a red-collared dress shirt, appeared to be shaking as the judge's decision was read to the court.

Kenkel said Lund shows a "complete inability to control sexual impulses," and his "conduct resulted in pain and serious harm to others."

Lund's "repetitive behaviour" from his teens to his early twenties was aggressive, Kenkel said, and showed a "complete disregard for others."

Lund displayed a "history of manipulation and deceit" that cast doubt on his prospects for rehabilitation, Kenkel said.

'He's very nervous'

Lund declined to speak in court Wednesday. His lawyer, Eginhart Ehlers, told court that Lund wanted to offer his sincere apologies to the community.

"He's declining to speak because he can't get his thoughts straight. He's very nervous, and virtually unable to focus," said Ehlers.

"He's had a tough time while incarcerated."

Ehlers argued Lund should be sentenced to eight to 10 years.

Lund has no previous criminal convictions and has spent nearly half of his time in pre-trial custody, in segregation.

'Severe impact'

"His 37-month period of time going through this process has opened his eyes to the damage he caused," Ehlers said. "The irreparable damage to his own family, his own life, more importantly to his victims, to young children, the devastation to their lives."

Ehlers told court Lund has had no contact with his family while behind bars, which has had a "severe impact" on him.

Crown prosecutor Indy Kandola called Lund a "rare-breed offender" and is pushing for an indeterminate sentence.

"He lives and breathes to violate children and animals," Kandola said Wednesday, adding Lund is an "incurable pedophile."

Girlfriends plead guilty

Lund pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault, as well as charges of bestiality, possessing child pornography and conspiring to administer a noxious substance to a person under 16.

The crimes involved up to 14 children, and occurred in Orillia, Penetanguishene and Waterloo, the Crown told the court.

    Shayne Lund, Kathryn Thompson, Avery Taylor

Two of Lund's former girlfriends, Avery Taylor and Kathryn Thompson, pleaded guilty to almost a dozen charges each.

Both were sentenced to jail time and designated long-term offenders.

Eighty People Arrested in Ontario Child-Exploitation Investigation

274 charges to be laid

MICHELLE MCQUIGGE
TORONTO — The Canadian Press

Dozens of people are facing hundreds of charges after a massive, province-wide investigation into child sexual abuse in Ontario, Canada.

Provincial police said the months-long investigation netted 80 alleged offenders who are now facing a total of 274 charges, adding more arrests are expected.

The bulk of the charges relate to sexual assault, child pornography and exploitation, but police said several counts also concern drugs and weapons.

OPP Chief Supt. Don Bell said Thursday the investigation involved collaboration with the RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency, United States Homeland Security, and 26 municipal police forces across Ontario.

You guys are all my heroes today. Thank you, and God bless you!

He said the wide range of ages and jurisdictions involved in the probe shines a light on how pervasive and devastating the problem is.

“The most fundamental responsibility of any society is to protect our children. Every child has the right to be nurtured and to be safe,” Bell told a news conference. “Every image of child pornography represents a child victim. Every trading or transmission of that image represents a revictimization of that child.”

From its inception in August 2006 to March 2016, Ontario’s Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet has completed 32,808 investigations and laid 11,408 charges against 3,310 people, police said.

During that period, 870 child victims were identified in Ontario, and another 173 internationally, OPP said.

The 80 people charged in latest investigation range in age from 74 to a youth who cannot be named under the terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act and span the province from Ottawa to Windsor.

Police said they identified 20 alleged victims over the course of the investigation who have been referred to community supports for help.

The child pornography probe also overlapped with incidents connected to human trafficking, allowing police to release nine minors who had been forced into the sex trade against their will.

Those children included 14, 15, and 16-year-olds, police said.

In one incident flagged by Toronto police, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly befriended by two men who lured her with the promise of lucrative work, then shuttled her to hotels around the city to perform sexual services.

Police allege the men also sexually assaulted her themselves in a vehicle. They are now facing a total of 15 charges and appear on the list of those arrested in the province-wide sweep, which involved executing 174 warrants.

The OPP indicated that the number of people charged is expected to rise, adding they had made additional arrests on Thursday and expected more in the coming days.

“We cannot arrest ourselves out of this phenomenon,”

OPP Chief Supt. Don Bell

But Bell said tackling the problem would involve more than simply laying charges.

“We cannot arrest ourselves out of this phenomenon,” he said. “Our community partners are extremely important. Our educators are extremely important. We have to create an awareness, and as parents we have to take ownership of our children.”

47 Charged with 135 Offences in Canada-wide Human Trafficking Crackdown

20 people, mostly kids, rescued

David Shum
Global News

WATCH ABOVE: Several police forces were involved in a major, multi-jurisdictional investigation codenamed Operation Northern Spotlight, including the RCMP and FBI.


TORONTO – An extensive Canada-wide human trafficking investigation has resulted with 47 people being arrested and charged with 135 offences, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced on Thursday.

Earlier this month, the same investigation, nicknamed Operation Northern Spotlight, netted nine people with 33 charges being laid.

During a press conference on Thursday, the OPP said Phase 4 of the probe resulted in 20 people being removed and saved from the sex trade.

Police said most of those rescued were under the age of 19 and some were as young as 14.

“Human trafficking investigations are complex and labour-intensive and we must continue to fight for the rights of those victims who are often from vulnerable sectors of our population in Ontario,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Scott Tod.

Police said the investigation required the help from 40 law enforcement agencies nationwide, including the FBI and RCMP, by pre-arranging meetings with people suspected of partaking in the sex trade, potentially against their will.

“Human trafficking is a threat which targets the vulnerable around the world. And one of the most vulnerable — our children,” said Joseph S. Campbell, Assistant Director, FBI Criminal Investigation Division.

During the same period, police in the United States conducted a parallel investigation dubbed Operation Cross Country.

“As a result of this collaboration and sharing, both U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies rescued children and arrested those involved in the trafficking of children.”

Those arrested have been charged with offences including trafficking in persons, forcible confinement, child pornography, and sexual assault with a weapon.

VIDEO: During a Thursday morning press conference to outline the results of a human trafficking investigation, a victim of human trafficking outlined her own story of being kidnapped and forced to work as an exotic dancer. (She was not rescued in this operation!)

All those involved in this operation - you are my heroes today. God bless you.