If anyone was wondering about the outcome of this case, this news article has all the details. I think everyone had forgotten all about it until a new poster claiming to be Ben brought this necro thread (found on google!) to our attention. He wanted us to be quiet about this whole sordid affair, so please.
Ben Christensen sentenced to 15 months after pleading guilty to threatening two Crown prosecutors
Terrorizing two city prosecutors with a threatening email designed to get charges dropped against a sex offender has landed a key Occupy Calgary figure a 15-month jail term.
Ben Christensen was also ordered to serve three years of probation following his release, with conditions which include staying out of Calgary.
Defence lawyer Daniel Chivers said that condition was Christensen’s idea.
Christensen, 27, pleaded guilty to a single charge of threatening two justice system participants in order to impede them from doing their jobs.
Reading from a statement of agreed facts, which Christensen reluctantly accepted, Edmonton chief Crown prosecutor Steve Bilodeau detailed the threatening missive Christensen penned.
The note was intended for one prosecutor, but went to a second, frightening both women.
In it, Christensen demanded charges be withdrawn against admitted sex offender Derrick Frank, who lured a 14-year-old boy over the Internet and was found in possession of child pornography.
“If you refuse ... your son who you fight so hard to protect from violent sexual offenders will find himself in a very real and uncomfortable situation,” the email said.
In accepting a joint submission from Bilodeau and Chivers, Justice Earl Wilson noted the impact the threat had, particularly since both prosecutors work in the child exploitation unit.
“They see daily, first hand ... the evil that befalls children,” Wilson said, addressing Christensen.
“They see this gut-wretching stuff every day,” he said.
“Now, all of a sudden it’s brought to a personal level.”
Before Wilson’s ruling, Christensen apologized to his victims, but not before first discussing whether charges would not be brought against his male lover, Thomas Mackie, whom the judge suggested was compliant in the crime.
Wilson noted a text conversation Christensen had backed up onto his computer from his BlackBerry two days after the March 13 email in which he talked to Mackie about seeing one of the victims at the courthouse.
“I was just in the elevator alone with the ice queen ... she’s moving about very cautiously and watching behind her shoulders,” Christensen said.
“Good ... let’s let her feel the paranoia for a bit ... then we’ll send her another message saying, ‘time is ticking ...’” Mackie replied.
Christensen also said he was exploited by Frank, who is serving a 6 1/2-year prison term.
“I’m extremely remorseful that I allowed myself to be manipulated ... to do something as lowly and as dreadful as I did.”
kevin.martin@sunmedia.ca
On Twitter: @SUNKevinMartin
Ben Christensen sentenced to 15 months after pleading guilty to threatening two
