Anti-feminist blogger Rochefort sentenced to 12-month prison term

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“The publications of Mr. Rochefort implied {that a} focused group, ladies, needs to be managed, denigrated and mistreated.”

Jean-Claude Rochefort leaves the courthouse in Montreal on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Picture by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

Jean-Claude Rochefort, who wrote weblog posts praising killer Marc Lépine whereas expressing hatred towards feminists because the thirtieth anniversary of the École Polytechnique bloodbath approached, has been sentenced to a 12-month jail time period.

Rochefort, 74, hoped for a suspended sentence to be served in the neighborhood.

Throughout sentencing arguments, Rochefort stated he would possibly lose his house in a sponsored housing unit if he went to jail, and would in all probability face having to pay double his lease when he received out.

Superior Court docket Justice Pierre Labrie dominated Friday he couldn’t justify a suspended sentence in Rochefort’s case.

“The courtroom isn’t satisfied {that a} suspended sentence wouldn’t place the general public at risk,” Labrie stated.

The decide added {that a} suspended sentence wouldn’t tackle the ideas of denouncing what Rochefort did and dissuasion known as for in Canadian sentencing tips. And he stated a relative might assist Rochefort preserve his house whereas he’s jailed.

Rochefort might be eligible for parole in two months, after having served one-sixth of his sentence.

The decide famous Rochefort wrote his weblog posts in English and French “allowing him to succeed in probably the most readers attainable” and knew his target market — INCELS, an internet neighborhood of males who contemplate themselves unable to draw ladies sexually and specific hostile opinions towards ladies.

What Rochefort wrote was premeditated and mirrored on earlier than he posted the objects, Labrie stated.

The mitigating elements in Rochefort’s case, the decide stated, have been his age, his poor well being and the very fact he revered his circumstances whereas out on bail.

Rochefort seemed to be confused when he was known as ahead to be taken into custody Friday afternoon. He thought Labrie had sentenced him to a 15-month jail time period, a number of months longer than what prosecutor Roxane Laporte had requested for.

Over the past 4 months of 2019, Rochefort posted a number of objects on a weblog platform for INCELS, or involuntary celibate males, criticizing feminists whereas praising Lépine, the gunman who murdered 14 ladies and wounded 14 others on Dec. 6, 1989, at École Polytechnique, an engineering college affiliated with the Université de Montréal.

Lépine killed himself. Police discovered a letter inside his jacket stating he meant to kill feminists.

“Mr. Rochefort was glorifying Marc Lépine and offered him as a saint. What’s extra, he trivialized the tragedy at École Polytechnique and insulted the 14 victims,” Labrie stated as he learn from his determination.

“The publications of Mr. Rochefort implied {that a} focused group — ladies — needs to be managed, denigrated and mistreated.”

The sentence might be adopted by three years of probation. Throughout that point, Rochefort is not going to be allowed close to the college professors he referred to in his weblog posts. He may even be required to maintain a 50-metre distance from École Polytechnique and Université de Québec à Montréal.

He may even not be allowed to submit objects on social media about ladies, feminists, École Polytechnique (now known as Polytechnique Montréal), Marc Lépine and some other mass killer whereas on probation.

pcherry@postmedia.com