A man from Burlington, Ontario, who admitted to making threats towards two women, has been given a five-year prison sentence. DeAndre Anderson, 25, was apprehended in April 2024 and charged with two counts of making threats related to the incel ideology, as stated by the RCMP. The sentence was pronounced by Justice Jennifer Crawford at the Ontario Court of Justice in Burlington during a continuation of his sentencing hearing. Anderson will serve 860 days of the term, equating to about 28½ months, after accounting for 523 days of pre-sentence custody, which was in line with the Crown’s request.
The charges, deemed as terrorist activity under the law, were the outcome of a collaborative inquiry involving the Halton Regional Police Service and the FBI. Anderson confessed his guilt in November, and the identities of the victims are safeguarded by a publication ban. During the sentencing, Anderson, accompanied by his mother, sat in the prisoner’s box, visibly affected as Crawford detailed the case and announced the sentence.
According to an agreed statement of facts between the Crown and the defense, Anderson utilized the alias MrUgly420 on an incel website from December 2022 to April 2024, expressing intentions to harm a former classmate and sharing her image online. Subsequent to his arrest, authorities discovered Anderson’s plans to harm his dentist and commit acts of violence against women at random.
Although Anderson did not act upon his threats, Crawford emphasized the seriousness of his publicized violent intentions, which normalized and advocated mass violence against women and others. Recognizing the gravity of his actions and level of accountability, Crawford asserted that a five-year imprisonment is commensurate with the offense’s severity and Anderson’s responsibility. The incarceration period is intended to facilitate rehabilitation while ensuring the separation of Anderson from society.
Regarding parole eligibility, Crawford noted Anderson’s participation in various programs during his incarceration, demonstrating some progress. Anderson expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging his regrettable behavior on the incel platform. Crawford indicated that if Anderson demonstrates significant rehabilitative progress to mitigate risks, a supervised release could be considered at a later stage by the Parole Board. However, she mandated that Anderson must complete at least half of his sentence before parole consideration, adhering to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act guidelines.
