Pat King gets 3-month conditional sentence plus time served

Pat King, a key organizer of the 2022 convoy protest in downtown Ottawa, got a three-month conditional sentence on Wednesday after the judge accounted for time already served in jail.

In November, King was convicted in Ontario Superior Court on five criminal charges: mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to obstruct a public or peace officer, and two counts of disobeying a court order.

Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland found King “personally led a large convoy” and was an “active participant” with supporters in disrupting Ottawa services and bringing the “core of the city to a standstill” in January and February 2022.

Crown prosecutor Moiz Karimjee said King’s offences were of the “worst kind” and asked for a 10-year sentence, the maximum penalty for mischief.

King’s defence requested time-served, citing the days he spent behind bars after his February 2022 arrest.

The Alberta native was given a 12-month sentence Thursday, with nine months credit for time served in jail and under restrictive bail conditions. Conditions for the other three months include being on good behaviour and checking in with the court.

King is the first convicted leader of the Freedom Convoy to face significant punishment. Others, including Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, are awaiting the outcomes of their trials.