Correction
An earlier version of the article included an incorrect photograph. The image used was of Patrick Ross Baker MacDonald, who is not connected in any way to the individual convicted.
Mr. MacDonald lives in Nova Scotia, works in the software industry, and has no association with neo-Nazi activity or the subject of the article. The photograph was removed promptly after we were made aware of the error, and we regret the distress and harm caused.
We sincerely apologize to Mr. MacDonald, his family, and our readers for this mistake.
OTTAWA โ An Ottawa man was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison after a judge found he produced and distributed propaganda for the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division.
Superior Court Justice Robert Smith had earlier found Patrick Gordon MacDonald guilty on three counts: participating in the activities of a terrorist group, facilitating a terrorist activity, and willfully promoting hatred.
Prosecutors said MacDonald created and edited three recruitment videos that encouraged violence on behalf of Atomwaffen. They told the court he used his camera equipment and graphic design skills to produce violent images and then posted them online as propaganda.
The Crown said MacDonald operated under the alias Dark Foreigner and sought to spread hate and provoke a race war through his material. Crown lawyers asked for a longer term to reflect the seriousness and reach of the material.
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada said today that MacDonald provided skills and tools that enhanced the ability of a listed terrorist group to recruit and incite violence. The PPSC described online terrorist propaganda as a lethal tool when aimed at vulnerable audiences.
Jewish advocacy groups and community safety organizations welcomed the sentence. Bโnai Brith Canada, which filed materials for the sentencing hearing, called the ruling a victory for community safety and said it should deter future extremists.
The RCMP noted the case grew from a national investigation into Atomwaffen affiliates and related activity. Authorities said the matter marked a significant prosecution of online neo-Nazi recruitment and propaganda in Canada.
At an earlier sentencing hearing, the Crown sought a term in the mid-teens while defence counsel asked for a lower sentence. Court filings and expert testimony addressed the wider harm caused by extremist recruitment imagery and calls to violence.
MacDonald pleaded not guilty at trial. Reports from the sentencing process say he offered an apology in court and said he had renounced extremist views while on bail. The judge imposed the custodial term after weighing the offences, published material, and public safety interests.
This article is based on verified information from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Global News/The Canadian Press, the RCMP, and reporting by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.