Judge Threatened

April 17, 2013 permalink

Philip Laforet has been charged with threatening a judge and crown attorney in Windsor Ontario. Fixcas knows nothing of what prompted the threats, but family matters are more likely than civil or criminal matters. It is recorded here in case it comes back in the news again. Facebook page.

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Tecumseh man charged with threatening court officials

Apr 17, 2013 - 8:26 AM EDT, Last Updated: Apr 17, 2013 - 8:26 AM EDT

A Tecumseh man is facing several charges after he sent threatening letters to court officials last month.

The Ontario Provincial Police said they were contacted by Windsor police in late March after threats were made to a judge and crown attorney in Windsor.

The joint investigation was completed by the OPP justice officials protections and investigations section and the Justice Security Office of Ontario.

Philip Laforet, 49, of Lesperance Road in Tecumseh, was discovered to have sent threatening letters and has been charged with criminal harassment and intimidation.

He will appear in a Windsor court April 24.

Source: Windsor Star

Later the same day the Star issued another article explaining the case. Mr Laforet is involved, among other things, in a family law case, but one that is off-topic for Fixcas. The video attached to the article explains that Laforet has been blocked from seeing his son, and took remedial action against the crown prosecutor (but not the judge).

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Former funeral director charged with threatening justice officials

Trevor Wilhelm, Apr 17, 2013 - 8:26 AM EDT, Last Updated: Apr 17, 2013 - 6:35 PM EDT

A former undertaker who once faked five people’s deaths and believes laws don’t apply to him has been arrested again, this time for threatening a cop and an assistant Crown attorney.

Philip Laforet — previously convicted of pilfering nearly $40,000 in a pre-paid funeral scam — allegedly sent the threatening letters over a separate harassment charge he faces involving his former spouse.

“They don’t like it because they always get their way and I’m standing up to it,” Laforet, who argues citizens aren’t bound by the Constitution, told The Star Wednesday.

“Sending someone a letter is a crime? I don’t believe so. The day will come in court when we see what that’s all about. But this tells me they’re nervous. This is ridiculous as far as I’m concerned. It started out really insignificant and it’s grown to this. It’s unbelievable to me.”

Laforet, 49, of Lesperance Road in Tecumseh, is charged with two counts of criminal harassment and two charges of intimidating a justice system participant. He allegedly made the threats in letters sent between March 1, 2012, and March 21 of this year.

“We take incidents like this very seriously, because our justice officials are there to ensure everything runs smoothly,” said Essex County OPP Const. Stephanie Moniz. “When somebody who is in charge of such a big task is threatened, it’s very serious. You can’t go around threatening officials who are trying to dole out justice. It undermines the whole system.”

Moniz said Laforet is charged with harassing and intimidating a judge and a Crown attorney. But court documents show the alleged victims are assistant Crown attorney Scott Pratt and Isabella Vella, a Tecumseh OPP officer.

Philip Laforet chats with The Star from the side door of his Tecumseh residence, Wednesday April 17, 2013. Laforet has been charged with criminal harassment and intimidation as a justice system participant.

NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star

While he denied being responsible, Laforet confirmed he is charged with threatening Pratt and Vella.

Provincial police started investigating last month after getting a call from Windsor police.

The Crown attorney’s office in London is handling the case. They declined comment. Brendan Crawley, with the Ministry of the Attorney General, which oversees Crown attorney offices, didn’t return repeated phone calls.

The alleged threats stem from another case involving Laforet and his former common-law spouse. He was charged last year with criminally harassing her in the middle of a child custody dispute.

Vella and Pratt are involved in that harassment case, which goes to trial in June. Laforet is defending himself. He said that’s why he sent Pratt letters. In the letters, Laforet said he was going to put a lien on Pratt’s house. It was a “legal manoeuvre.”

“I sent letters, because that’s what you do,” said Laforet. “He’s in fact my adversary now.

“This is a legal way to do stuff if you’ve done harm to me. I’m saying because you’ve charged me with this nonsense, and it’s ridiculous, you’re harming me. You’re harming my relationship to my son. You’re harming me and I want remedy.”

He said he sent a similar letter to Vella.

“I said I could put a lien on your property, or something like that,” said Laforet. “I didn’t threaten any violence or anything like that.”

The letters also referenced Laforet’s belief in an anti-government movement known as Freemen on the Land. The movement, which argues laws don’t apply to citizens, has been picking up momentum across Canada.

They have declared themselves independent of government jurisdiction, and claim laws are only applicable if you consent to be governed by them.

Laforet’s beliefs come from an interpretation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that the Constitution only applies to people working for the government.

“You are free,” said Laforet. “The Constitution doesn’t apply to you. And if the Constitution doesn’t apply to you, then the statutes below it don’t apply to you. Any of these acts and statutes, they only apply to you if you consent to be governed by them.”

Many Freeman believe they don’t need to have driver’s licences, obey traffic laws or pay taxes and child support.

“They’re free thinkers,” said Laforet. “It took me a while to get my head around this, so I don’t expect everyone to get their head around it immediately. But we own this country and the government works for us. So if I own that road, why would I need a licence to drive on my road?”

Laforet said the only law that applies is the “supreme law,” which is “do no harm.”

This isn’t the first time he’s been accused of breaking so-called “man’s laws.” Laforet, former director of the LaSalle Funeral Home, was sentenced to 12 months in jail and two years probation in 2007.

Five senior citizens lost nearly $40,000 when Laforet faked their deaths, cashed out their prepaid funeral trust funds and deposited the money into his personal account.

Philip Laforet chats with The Star from the side door of his Tecumseh residence, Wednesday April 17, 2013. Laforet has been charged with criminal harassment and intimidation as a justice system participant.

NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star

Source: Windsor Star