R. v. Kelly (J.J.), (2015) 607 A.R. 179

• Judge: Paperny, Watson and Schutz, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (Alberta)
• Case Date: October 27, 2015
• Citations: (2015), 607 A.R. 179;2015 ABCA 332

R. v. Kelly (J.J.) (2015), 607 A.R. 179; 653 W.A.C. 179 (CA)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] A.R. TBEd. NO.009

Her Majesty the Queen (respondent) v. John Joseph Kelly (appellant)

(1401-0010-A; 2015 ABCA 332)

Indexed As: R. v. Kelly (J.J.)

Alberta Court of Appeal

Paperny, Watson and Schutz, JJ.A.

November 4, 2015.

Summary:

Kelly had complained to police about a local soccer federation. Resentful that no criminal charges were laid, he harassed the investigating police officer for the better part of a decade, interfered with witnesses and sabotaged a planned undercover operation. His convictions for harassment and obstructing police officers were upheld: see [2015] A.R. Uned. 103. He received a total sentence of imprisonment for 30 months. Kelly appealed.

The Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal as "devoid of merit".

Criminal Law - Topic 5801.1

Sentencing - General - Proportionality - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5969 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5832.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Integrity of administration of justice - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5969 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5849.18

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Criminal harassment - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5969 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5888

Sentence - Resisting or obstructing a peace officer - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5969 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5969

Sentence - Criminal harassment - Kelly had complained to police about a local soccer federation - Resentful that no criminal charges were laid, he harassed the investigating police officer for the better part of a decade, interfered with witnesses and sabotaged a planned undercover operation - His convictions for one count of harassment and two counts of obstructing police officers were upheld - Kelly appealed his total sentence of imprisonment for 30 months - The Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal as "devoid of merit" - As for the sentence for harassment, [t]he approach taken by the trial judge, not being covered by a starting point or direct categorization authority, was aimed at proportionality. Having regard to the enduring nature of the harassment, and its escort by a highly deliberate and malicious state of mind, it is impossible to discern an error in principle reflecting an excess of sentence within the deferential standard of review that applies in sentencing generally." - As for the sentences for obstruction, those offences were of "considerable magnitude and gravity, they also being quite deliberate. ... The implications for the effectiveness of the justice system and the investigation of crime by the broadcasts and interference by the appellant are clear beyond doubt. Nothing less than a very stern response from the Courts could possibly be appropriate for an offender of the qualities both proven and, to an extent, admitted by him. The sentences in total were, if anything, unduly lenient." - See paragraphs 35 to 43.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Buzzanga and Durocher (1979), 101 D.L.R.(3d) 488 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Tatton (P.F.) (2015), 472 N.R. 330; 332 O.A.C. 175; 2015 SCC 33, refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Barros (R.), [2011] 3 S.C.R. 368; 421 N.R. 270; 513 A.R. 1; 530 W.A.C. 1; 2011 SCC 51, refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Reynolds (G.), [2011] 1 S.C.R. 693; 415 N.R. 395; 276 O.A.C. 3; 2011 SCC 19, refd to. [para. 6].

Sabourin and Sun Group of Companies v. Laiken (2015), 470 N.R. 89; 332 O.A.C. 142; 382 D.L.R.(4th) 577; 2015 SCC 17, refd to. [para. 6].

Carey v. Laiken - see Sabourin and Sun Group of Companies v. Laiken.

R. v. Beaudry (A.), [2007] 1 S.C.R. 190; 356 N.R. 323; 2007 SCC 5, refd to. [para. 13].

Sivia v. Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (B.C.) et al. (2015), 476 N.R. 3; 378 B.C.A.C. 1; 650 W.A.C. 1; 2015 SCC 46, refd to. [para. 13].

Goodwin v. Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (B.C.) et al. - see Sivia v. Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (B.C.) et al.

R. v. Nixon (O.), [2011] 2 S.C.R. 566; 417 N.R. 274; 502 A.R. 18; 517 W.A.C. 18; 2011 SCC 34, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Clemente (V.F.), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 758; 168 N.R. 310; 95 Man.R.(2d) 161; 70 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. McRae (S.), [2013] 3 S.C.R. 931; 451 N.R. 375; 2013 SCC 68, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Mahalingan (R.), [2008] 3 S.C.R. 316; 381 N.R. 199; 243 O.A.C. 252; 2008 SCC 63, refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Angelillo (G.), [2006] 2 S.C.R. 728; 355 N.R. 226; 2006 SCC 55, refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. deKock (C.R.) (2009), 454 A.R. 102; 455 W.A.C. 102; 2009 ABCA 225, refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Lees, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 749; 27 N.R. 548, refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Wenc (C.R.) (2009), 460 A.R. 366; 462 W.A.C. 366; 2009 ABCA 328, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Barnes (J.A.), [2006] A.R. Uned. 897; 2006 ABCA 295, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Stuart (H.R.) (2006), 384 A.R. 373; 367 W.A.C. 373; 2006 ABCA 168, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Leasak (G.M.) (2007), 401 A.R. 282; 391 W.A.C. 282; 2007 ABCA 38, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Ambrose (B.A.) (2000), 271 A.R. 164; 234 W.A.C. 164; 2000 ABCA 264, refd to. [para. 40].

R. v. Gibson (R.J.) (2015), 593 A.R. 380; 637 W.A.C. 380; 319 C.C.C.(3d) 115; 2015 ABCA 41, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Hill (No. 2), [1977] 1 S.C.R. 827; 7 N.R. 373; 25 C.C.C.(2d) 6, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Patton (D.R.) (2011), 505 A.R. 394; 522 W.A.C. 394; 2011 ABCA 199, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Edmonds (P.B.) (2012), 539 A.R. 110; 561 W.A.C. 110; 2012 ABCA 340, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Holloway (P.S.) (2014), 572 A.R. 121; 609 W.A.C. 121; 308 C.C.C.(3d) 145; 2014 ABCA 87, refd to. [para. 43].

Counsel:

J. Morgan, for the respondent;

R. Mackenzie, for the appellant.

This sentence appeal was heard on October 27, 2015, before Paperny, Watson and Schutz, JJ.A., of the Alberta Court of Appeal. The Court delivered the following memorandum of judgment, filed at Calgary, Alberta, on November 4, 2015.