Barrie man at the centre of violent arrest sentenced for unrelated charges
Skyler Kent sat in a Barrie courtroom on Friday, his gaze fixed straight ahead, as the 22-year-old pleaded guilty to seven charges, the most recent of which was in July 2022.
Among the charges were three assault offences related to choking, biting, and closing a door on an ex-girlfriend, whom he accused of being unfaithful.
The Crown presented video evidence of some of the incidents to the judge.
Kent also pleaded guilty to violating a court order to cease contact with his ex-girlfriend and to uttering death threats to several girls and a former Barrie police officer.
He was handed an all-encompassing global sentence of one year in prison, with enhanced credit for time served in custody due to the harsh jail conditions, meaning he only had to serve four more days.
Additionally, he was given two years probation and a five-year weapon prohibition upon his release.
The harsh conditions Kent experienced in custody included lockdowns due to understaffed prisons during the pandemic, triple bunking in a cell, and being cellmates with his father, who had substance abuse and mental health issues.
As part of his sentence, he is not allowed to have any contact or communication with any of the victims or their families.
VIOLENT 2021 ARREST
In 2021, Kent was publicly and violently arrested by Barrie police officer Jason Stamp, who has since resigned from the service.
Kent was accused of skateboarding through a red light and causing a disturbance.
Following the arrest that was caught on cell phone video and shared on social media, an OPP investigation was launched, and Stamp was charged with assault and assault with a weapon for his use of a taser during the incident. Civil action is still in process in the matter.
In July 2022, Kent posted an expletive-laden Facebook video in which he threatened to kill Jason Stamp and others.
The Crown stated that Stamp was made aware of the video and believed there was a genuine threat to his safety.
The defence argued that Kent's mental health issues, including anxiety and multiple personality disorders, were tied to a troubled and abusive upbringing that had resulted in a history of self-harm since the age of 14. He apologized to the court, acknowledging that mental health was not an excuse for his actions.
The Crown requested an 18-month sentence and three years probation, but the defence's sentencing recommendation was ultimately accepted by the judge, who cited Kent's youth and mental struggles as mitigating factors. However, the judge also noted that Kent's actions were concerning and dangerous. The judge also gave strong consideration to the victim impact statements.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.