A man from Burlington, Ontario, who admitted to making threats to harm two women, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday. DeAndre Anderson, aged 25, was apprehended in April 2024 for uttering threats that aligned with the incel ideology, as stated by the RCMP. The sentencing, presided over by Justice Jennifer Crawford at the Ontario Court of Justice in Burlington, was a continuation of the hearing process.
Justice Crawford mandated that Anderson must serve 860 days, equivalent to around 28½ months, after accounting for a credit of 523 days for time served before sentencing, as requested by the Crown. The charges, deemed as terrorist activity under the law, resulted from a collaborative investigation involving the Halton Regional Police Service and the FBI.
Anderson, who pleaded guilty in November, had the identities of the victims protected by a publication ban. During the sentencing, Anderson’s mother was present in court as he sat in the prisoner’s box, showing emotions as the judge reviewed the case details and pronounced the verdict. According to the agreed facts between the Crown and the defense, Anderson utilized the online alias MrUgly420 to make threatening posts on an incel website from December 2022 to April 2024.
Upon his arrest, authorities discovered a plan by Anderson to harm his dentist and another plan to randomly attack women. Justice Crawford remarked that although Anderson did not carry out his threats, his public dissemination of violent thoughts normalized and promoted mass violence against women and others. She emphasized the gravity of his actions and level of responsibility, justifying the five-year prison term as appropriate for the offense and Anderson’s accountability.
Regarding parole eligibility, Anderson engaged in various programs during his incarceration, demonstrating efforts towards rehabilitation. Anderson expressed remorse in court for his actions and statements, acknowledging his regret for his incel forum posts. Justice Crawford outlined that Anderson may be considered for release under strict parole supervision once rehabilitated to a non-risk level, in accordance with the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. The Act mandates that offenders serve at least half of their sentence before parole consideration, with specific conditions for terrorism-related convictions.
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