Ontario Review Board
Re: Ivano Stellato
ORB File No: 8739
Hearing held on: Wednesday August 27, 2025
Place of Hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. R. Bigelow
Members: Mr. M. Segal
Dr. P. Prendergast
Dr. M. Mamak
Mr. S. Duffy
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Ivano Stellato
Counsel: Mr. M. Stellato
The Person in Charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. A. Marshall
Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. K. Kirec
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION (Dated October 8, 2025)
Introduction
On February 24, 2025, Ivano Stellato was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCR) on charges of mischief, threatening death, criminal harassment (x3), threatening bodily harm (x2), and fail to comply with a release order all contrary to the Criminal Code. The court did not make a disposition and referred the matter to the Ontario Review Board (the Board) to do so.
On Monday, August 27, 2025, the Board convened a hearing at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) pursuant to section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code to make an initial disposition. Ivano Stellato was present at the hearing and represented by counsel, Mr. Maurizio Stellato. Mr. Stellato’s father, Guiseppe Stellato was also present at the hearing. The issues to be determined at the hearing were whether Mr. Ivano Stellato represents a significant threat to the safety of the public as defined in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code and, if so, to determine what was the necessary and appropriate disposition that was also the least onerous and least restrictive taking into account the factors set out in 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Initial Positions of the Parties
At the commencement of the hearing the parties were requested to provide their initial without prejudice positions with respect to the issues before the Board. Counsel for the Hospital indicated that it was the Hospital’s position that Mr. Stellato represented a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition was a discharge subject to the conditions set out in the Hospital Report at page 35.
Both counsel for the Attorney General and counsel for Mr. Stellato supported the Hospital position.
Evidence at the hearing
- The evidence at the hearing consisted of the Informations sworn the 17^th^ and the 23^rd^ of May 2023, a series of synopses of allegations, a consent bail variation dated February 24, 2025, an NCR Assessment dated November 17, 2024, a Hospital Report dated August 11, 2025, Victim Impact Statements from I. Brown and A. Naganobu and the oral evidence of Dr. A. Ali, Mr. Stellato’s treating physician.
Findings
- For the Reasons that follow, the Board finds that Mr. Stellato represents a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition is discharge on the conditions as recommended by the Hospital.
Index Offence
- The allegations surrounding the index offence as summarized in the Hospital Report are as follows:
February 25 to March 9, 2022 – Harassment by Repeated Communication
Synopsis
Toronto Police documentation indicates that on September 15, 2021, the victim, Ms. Laura T, contacted the police to report ‘ongoing in-person and telecommunication harassment’ from Mr. Stellato. He was cautioned and reported he understood he was not to make further contact with the victim.
According to police documentation on February 25, 2022, the victim received a message from Mr. Stellato’s cellphone number stating, "R u ready to speak the true truth?" The victim recognized the phone number and did not reply. On February 26, 2022, the victim reported a ‘series of text messages starting at 11 :48 a.m. from the same number. The contents of the text messages are scattered and in a steam-of-consciousness style, but are addressed to her and further mention her by name.’
According to documentation, Mr. Stellato’s lengthy messages made repeated promises to protect the victim from other men, expressed his desire for them to be together and declared his love for the victim. It was reported that Mr. Stellato sent the victim a total of 13 long text messages ‘comprising eight full pages of text’.
On March 5, 2022, Mr. Stellato made several posts on his Instagram account referencing the victim. In one of the posts, Mr. Stellato posted a picture of a sticky note stating the following, ‘YOUR WORLD IS OVER. DELIVER LAURA TO ME IMMEDIATELY.’ The post was followed by 34 replies posted by Mr. Stellato himself in which he expressed concerns that the victim was being held captive and made promises to protect her.
On March 9, 2022, Mr. Stellato posted a selfie of his face on his Instagram account. He then made 14 comments on the post. These comments were described in police documentation as ‘stream-of consciousness argument with people he perceives are threatening his ability to keep Laura safe.’
On March 10, 2022, the victim contacted the Toronto Police to report the harassment. On March 11, 2022, police officers attended Mr. Stellato’s home and knocked on the door of his residence. Police documentation indicates that a male inside the unit could be heard yelling “go away” despite the officers identifying themselves. The male also continued to say "go away...leave me alone...stop harassing me ". Attempts to contact Mr. Stellato via phone were fruitless as the call went to voicemail immediately. The documentation indicated that the building security personnel reported Mr. Stellato had been making complaints about noises that could not be located and that this had happened in the past. On March 12, 2022, police attended Mr. Stellato’s home in Etobicoke and placed him under arrest.
Toronto Police Report from Victim (Laura T)
Laura reported that she met Mr. Stellato in the summer of 2018 through the kite surfing community. Mr. Stellato became her kite surfing instructor. She described them as ‘casual acquaintances.’ Laura reported that Mr. Stellato started to express romantic feelings for her in the summer of 2019. Laura declined his advances and told him she no longer wanted a friendship with him. She reported that she blocked him from her social media accounts.
As per police notes (PC Offord 11825), Laura learned about Mr. Stellato’s initial social media activities relating to her from common acquaintances. She informed police that Mr. Stellato started to isolate himself and was ‘cutting people off’ at the beginning of the global pandemic, and that he stopped talking to members of the surfing community. Laura described Mr. Stellato making social media posts about being blocked from her account and references to her wearing a blue bikini (August 12, 2021). On September 6, 2021, he had posted about ‘having a wedding and sex with [the victim]’ and describing her as “my forever star.” He also made posts about seeing her when she went paddle boarding.
May 16, 2023 – Harassment by Repeated Communication x 2, Uttering Threats x 2, FTC with Release Order
Synopsis
On May 16th at 1803 hours, police attended 115 Niagara Street in Toronto for a threatening radio call. Police arrived on scene and commenced their investigation. The victim Laura T advised officers that Mr. Stellato was sending countless e-mails to her ex-partner Ilana B. Laura advised that her e-mail address was also in the sent recipients but was incorrect by one period. Within the e-mails, Mr. Stellato made mention of both victims’ names and made threatening remarks, including but not limited to [typos included]: "I'm gonna use you for airsoft target practice ugly dog shit"/"I'm gonna have [N-words] plant that fat ugly mouth of yours ontoa sidewalk and smash your skull against it”/"I'm gonna make sur eyou eat shit and never die but suffer you fucking ugly dog shit cunt"/ "Hey Ilana [B] get it shit"/"Hey al .. I'm gonna shoot you form my horse eh dog shit fagagt lsoer"/"Eh Faggat I'M literally gonna start shooting you"/"Eh the rest of you gonna get your eyeballs stabbed out eh cunt hole"/"Eh Laura are you Karla Homolka eh cunt face"/"I can't wait to see you all slit your ugly cunt throats, I can't wait to see you get your libs sawn off, I can't wait to see you suffer"/"Hey Ilana am I fucking stupid?"/"Hey Laura [T] slice your ugly neck open"/"Lets play hunger games, me on my balcony with a bow and arrow eh cunt face dog shit"/"What about a sling shot with stones and I will stone you all eh cunt face"/"I'm gonna have the shity beat out of you"/"I'm gonna have you beaten to a bloody pulp eh cunt face dog shit fagagt"/"I'm gonna have you begging for mercy tahgt never comes eh dog shit cut face faggat cunt slice your neck open"/"I'm gonna have [N-words] and Indians stab you and rape you and torture you and treat you like the dog shit evil pieces of shit slut face slut cocks you are"/"I'm gonna have you tortured cop cunts."
Both victims advised that Mr. Stellato was currently on conditions not to communicate with them directly or indirectly, which was confirmed through police investigation.
Background Information Regarding the Accused
Mr. Stellato’s is 54 years of age and is the fourth in a sibline of five. His parents immigrated to Canada from Italy 10 years prior to his birth. He describes himself as a B-student in high school and was never suspended or expelled. After high school he initially attended the University of British Columbia, choosing that school because he enjoyed skiing. However, after two years he transferred to the University of Western Ontario because he was dating a woman in Toronto at the time and the long-distance relationship was too much. He graduated from Western with a degree in history and evolution of modern society. He subsequently completed additional courses at, the then, Ryerson University and took other professional courses leading to certificates in project management and computer science.
In the late 1990s Mr. Stellato partnered with his brother Carlo in an IT business which continued for five or six years but they had a falling out in 2001 and Mr. Stellato left the business. He reports that the stress involved with the falling out as well as a number of other stressors resulted in his having a “nervous breakdown” which he reports was the onset of his psychotic symptoms. He felt unable to work and sold his home and moved in with his parents. By 2005 he felt sufficiently recovered to return to work eventually buying his own condominium in 2008. However, around that time his employment contract expired, and he suffered a mental health setback and took a month leave from working. He then returned to working in consulting and contract roles. Around 2019 he decided to leave the IT field. He was already running an online business selling water sports equipment and decided to start doing this full time. However, the business failed to be profitable, and he got behind on his personal and business taxes which was then exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.
Currently Mr. Stellato is living off his savings and has plans to work in the project management area in the future.
Substance Use History
Mr. Stellato states that he began smoking cannabis in grade 9 and that “weed was a big part” of his life until he stopped using at the time he sold his house and moved in with his parents. After moving out of his parent’s home in 2008 he resumed smoking “a little bit”. He stopped again after a suicide attempt in 2013 but resumed in 2018 when it became legal. In 2022 and 2023 he smoked cannabis daily using at least 1 ounce per month but stopped after his arrest with respect to the index offences.
Mr. Stellato reported that he first consumed alcohol when he was in grade 11 but his drinking was initially limited to special occasions such as attending parties. His alcohol use would increase during periods when he was using cannabis, and he would sometimes start drinking when he woke up. He reports that he has not consumed alcohol since his arrest with respect to the index offences.
Legal History
- Mr. Stellato had no involvement with the criminal justice system prior to the index offences.
Psychiatric History
Although Mr. Stellato reports that he has a long-standing history of paranoia with fluctuating degrees of preoccupation and functional impairment commencing approximately in 2001, his first hospitalization with respect to mental health related issues was in 2013 when he was brought to hospital by EMS after he cut his left wrist and right thigh in a suicide attempt. On assessment, he described having felt the presence of the devil and that he felt “somewhat responsible for something bad that could be happening to his nephews and nieces despite reassurance from family that they were ok.” He was discharged against medical advice and declined outpatient psychiatric follow-up though indicating that he would follow up with a psychiatrist. The discharge diagnosis was substance – related disorders/cannabis intoxication.
Mr. Stellato had no further contacts with psychiatric services until following the index offences.
Current Diagnosis
- Mr. Stellato’s current diagnoses are as follows:
Schizophrenia
Cannabis Use Disorder, in sustained remission
Alcohol Use Disorder, in sustained remission
Evidence of Dr. Ali
Dr. Ali indicated that she had prepared the initial Hospital report after having interviewed Mr. Stellato on one occassion. He was currently being followed by the “civil side” of the patient program at CAMH and, should the Board agree with the Hospital recommendation, would be transferred to Forensic Outpatient Service (FOS) which will determine the appropriate treatment program for him. He is currently being treated with oral antipsychotic medication and is compliant with medication. He displays no residual symptoms of his illness and has good insight into his diagnosis and the effect of substance use on his mental health. He is currently residing in the community in a private residence and has no plans to relocate.
In Dr. Ali’s opinion, Mr. Stellato would likely come into hospital if requested and that the Mental Health Act that would be sufficient to manage his risk. In terms of the plan for the coming year, should he remain under the jurisdiction of the Board, Dr. Ali stated that FOS would take over his supervision and would determine the appropriate program for M, Stellato.
In response to questions from counsel for the Attorney General, Dr. Ali indicated that Mr. Stellato had a good support network and that his family has insight into his illness as well as the impact of substance use on his illness and that there was no basis for a requirement that his housing be approved.
In response to questions from counsel for Mr. Stellato, Dr. Ali indicated that although Mr. Stellato had not displayed symptoms of his illness for some time, it remained early days and that, should he fall away from treatment, there would likely be a decompensation and the return of symptoms similar to those he experienced at the time index offences.
In response to questions from panel members, Dr. Ali indicated that Mr. Stellato’s insight into the index offences was somewhat limited in that he could not give specific information with respect to symptoms he was experiencing at the time of those offences and that further development of his insight with respect to the index offences would be helpful to reduce risk. She also indicated that it was highly likely he that Mr. Stellato would be agreeable to programming to assist with the development of that insight. In addition, Mr. Stellato’s stress management skills need to be assessed.
After panel members questions, the parties were asked if they had and further questions for Dr. Ali arising from the questions of the other parties and panel members. Counsel for the Hospital asked Dr. Ali to further clarify the basis for her opinion that Mr. Stellato constituted a significant threat. Dr. Ali indicated that at the time of the index offences Mr. Stellato did not realize that was ill despite having suffer from symptoms of his illness for many years. It remained a significant concern that he could misinterpret social clues resulting in behaviour similar to that of the index offences. She also noted that when individuals such as Mr. Stellato decompensate, one of the first things to go is insight into their illness.
Final Submissions of the Parties
- All parties maintained their initial positions at the conclusion of the hearing.
Analysis and Conclusion, significant threat
The Board finds that the evidence supports the joint submission that Mr. Stellato represents a significant threat to the safety of the public. He suffers from a major mental illness, schizophrenia and when unwell experienced auditory hallucinations, delusions and acts out aggressively. His symptoms were exacerbated by the use of cannabis. However, even when abstinent from cannabis and he exhibited psychotic symptoms. At the time of the index offences, he exhibited delusions and aggressive behaviour.
The Board accepts the evidence of Dr. Ali, that although Mr. Stellato is currently not experiencing any psychotic symptoms, it is still early days. The Board also accepts the assessment of risk set out in the Hospital report where it states:
If Mr. Stellato were to reoffend, it would likely transpire in the context of exacerbation of his psychotic symptoms in the context of non-adherence with medications and/or substance use. This would result in paranoid and persecutory delusions, perceptual disturbances and violent ideation. Mr. Stellato may engage in substance use in order to cope with his symptoms or other stressors. Relapse into substance use would likely exacerbate his psychiatric symptoms. At that point, Mr. Stellato may not be able to appreciate his psychiatric symptoms and may not seek help appropriately. As such, his psychotic symptoms would likely worsen. In this state, he may be at heightened risk to misinterpret cues from the environment as threats to his safety. Subsequently, he may act in an aggressive, impulsive, disorganized and violent manner against others. In this state, his acts may result in significant physical or psychological harm as occurred at the time of the index offences.
Analysis and Conclusion, Necessary and Appropriate Disposition
- The Board also finds that the evidence supports a finding that Mr. Stellato’s risk can be managed safely under the terms of a conditional discharge on the terms jointly recommended by the parties. Mr. Stellato is not currently experiencing any symptoms of his illness. He has been compliant with treatment, abstinent from substance use and residing in the community without incident since June 2023. He has strong family support, and his family has insight into his illness and the impact of substance use on it. The expert opinion of Dr. Ali, which the Board accepts, is that Mr. Stellato is likely to attend to hospital if requested, adhere to treatment, remain abstinent from cannabis use, participate in recommended treatment programs and that the provisions of the Mental Health Act would be sufficient to manage risk.
DATED this 8^th^ day of October, 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. R. Bigelow
Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board