A man from Woodstock, Ontario has been sentenced to indefinite incarceration by a judge who deemed him too dangerous to be unsupervised in the community. Ontario Superior Court Justice John Krawchenko handed down the sentence to Peter Pasco, 51, after he was found guilty of attempting to kill a woman in Hamilton in 2021. Pasco had a history of violent behavior and the judge stated that without close supervision and treatment, there was a high likelihood of him reoffending. The judge concluded that an indeterminate sentence was necessary to adequately protect society from Pasco.
In the incident, Pasco attacked and robbed a Hamilton woman in 2021, leaving her with severe injuries including ruptured eardrums. He had been a client of the woman for several years before the assault took place. Following his conviction, the Crown sought to have Pasco designated a dangerous offender, which would allow for indefinite imprisonment under federal law.
During the trial, Pasco’s defense argued against indefinite imprisonment, suggesting that his risk of reoffending could be managed through supervision and treatment with a finite sentence. However, the judge was convinced by the Crown’s argument that Pasco exhibited a pattern of dangerous behavior and indifference to consequences that warranted an indeterminate sentence.
The judge also highlighted Pasco’s history of violent offenses against women, including previous convictions for robberies and aggravated assaults that resulted in serious injuries. Despite receiving mental health treatment while incarcerated, Pasco continued to exhibit violent behavior towards women, leading the judge to conclude that there was no reasonable possibility of controlling his risk in the community through treatment and supervision.
Pasco was diagnosed with several mental health disorders, including antisocial personality disorder, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. Medical experts expressed concerns about his high risk of reoffending and doubts about the effectiveness of treatment in changing his behavior. The judge ultimately determined that allowing Pasco to live in the community posed too great a risk, as past attempts at treatment and supervision had failed to prevent his violent tendencies.
For immediate assistance or support related to sexual violence, individuals are encouraged to call 911 or seek help from crisis lines and local services available through the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database.