Re: Ronald Hanthorn, 2025 CanLII 117208

Ontario Review Board

Re: Ronald Hanthorn

ORB File No: 8315

Hearing held on: Thursday, September 18, 2025

Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street, Whitby

Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code

Before:

Alternate Chairperson: Mr. M.D. Segal Members: Dr. S. Nagari (by Zoom) Dr. M. Choptiany Ms. J. Greenwood Ms. C. Plyley

Parties Appearing:

Accused: Ronald Hanthorn Counsel: Ms. S. Dubb

The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. A. Marshall

Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald

REASONS FOR DISPOSITION

(Dated November 13, 2025)

Introduction

1On January 7, 2023, Ronald Hanthorn, age 57, was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of assault, utter a threat to cause death or bodily harm, and assault with a weapon, contrary to the Criminal Code.

2On September 18, 2025, Mr. Hanthorn, who is on a detention order with privileges up to and including living in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge, appeared before the Ontario Review Board (the "Board") at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (the "hospital") for his annual hearing. The Board had before it as Exhibit 1, the Hospital Report dated September 7, 2025.

3In preliminary positions, the hospital recommended that no change to the Disposition be made. Crown counsel agreed. Patient's counsel conceded significant risk and agreed with the hospital position. After hearing the evidence and considering the matter, the Board agreed that Mr. Hanthorn still poses a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the current Disposition represented the appropriate balance between public safety and the rehabilitative needs of the patient.

Index Offence

4The circumstances of the index offence are taken from last year's Reasons for Disposition as follows:

"On September 28, 2022, Mr. Hanthorn approached a woman outside his condominium building. He yelled racial slurs at her, spat on her and threw his cane at her, narrowly missing her. He then told her he would break her neck and kill her.

When later assessed, Mr. Hanthorn did not remember these events."

Diagnosis

5Schizoaffective Disorder, bipolar type

Background

6Mr. Hanthorn reports a chaotic childhood. His mother abused alcohol and struggled with her mental health. Mr. Hanthorn was bullied. When he was a teenager, he saw his girlfriend get hit and killed by a drunk driver. He did not finish high school. He held a few jobs, but by age 20, he was on ODSP, having been diagnosed with schizophrenia with a differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder. His criminal record, prior to the index offence, consisted of a conviction in 2001 for uttering a threat and assault.

7There are no apparent substance abuse issues. Both of Mr. Hanthorn's adoptive parents are deceased. He was close to his father and received an inheritance that allowed him to purchase a condominium. Because of the events that culminated in the index offence, the Public Guardian and Trustee had to sell the condominium.

8Mr. Hanthorn was married for 27 years, adherent to medication, was stable, living in the community except around the time of the 2001 conviction. The breakdown of his marriage precipitated medication non-adherence and a series of hospitalizations. He was in hospital for virtually the entire year preceding the index offence.

9When Mr. Hanthorn was first admitted to the hospital, he was floridly psychotic and very ill. Over time, he improved. He was placed on a waitlist for Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) through the Canadian Mental Health Association. He is on a long-acting injectable antipsychotic – Aripiprazole - and takes clozapine at night.

Evidence at Hearing

10Dr. B. Chuong, the patient's psychiatrist for the last 18 months, testified. Dr. Chuong had an important update. Mr. Hanthorn has been accepted by CHO and has an intake appointment on Monday following his Board hearing. Once intake is completed, it should be a matter of three or four weeks for the transition.

11As is the norm, the hospital and CHO will work together to trial the residence for a few days before Mr. Hanthorn moves in permanently. The hospital had previously secured housing in Scarborough but, because Mr. Hanthorn had lived in Scarborough in his own home for several years, he did not wish to go there.

12Mr. Hanthorn has taken many programs, therapeutic and recreational, during his stay in hospital. He is more reluctant to participate in them now. He does not fully use all his privileges. When he does use them, he is responsible. The hospital wanted Mr. Hanthorn to undergo psychological testing, bearing in mind a concern about the presence of intellectual disability, but Mr. Hanthorn is adamant that he does not wish to participate in the testing.

13The hospital has tried different strategies to overcome Mr. Hanthorn's reluctance to involve himself in groups and social activities. Mr. Hanthorn does keep himself busy. He is an avid volunteer. He has an interest in horticulture. He attends physiotherapy.

14Mr. Hanthorn is fully compliant with medication. No changes are contemplated.

15The hospital was reluctant to advance a conditional discharge as Mr. Hanthorn is facing an important transition.

16The new residence is supervised 24 hours a day. Meals are provided and he will be prompted regarding self-care. His medications will be supervised. When he enters the community, he will be seen weekly by both a psychiatrist and a case manager.

17The emphasis for the upcoming year will be on emotional regulation, behavioural motivation, goal setting, and anger management.

18Although not required by his Disposition, Mr. Hanthorn voluntarily provides urine samples three times a week.

19In addition to using a leave of absence approach to ease Mr. Hanthorn into the new residence, he will be provided with orientation to become familiar with the residence, its surroundings and bus routes to hospital. There will be meetings between the Forensic Outpatient Team and the residence. Mr. Hanthorn is looking forward to his new housing.

20All-in-all, it has been a good year. While there have been challenges to get to this point, the forensic team is optimistic that the new residence will be a good fit.

Analysis

21Mr. Hanthorn has his struggles. His challenges relate to a major mental disorder. Substances are not a factor. Upon admission to hospital, Mr. Hanthorn was very ill. Over time, and with the administration of both a long-acting antipsychotic and clozapine, a level of stability was reached. He has been ready to move back to the community. Stress and coping are challenges, however, on a detention order Mr. Hanthorn is at a low risk for violence. At the hearing, the Board was updated that admission to a residence with the necessary supports and services is imminent. Mr. Hanthorn is looking forward to that. A sound transition plan is essential to allow Mr. Hanthorn to acclimatize to Mr. Hanthorn to the new residence so he can participate as much as possible in social endeavours. Mr. Hanthorn's volunteering is a wonderful cornerstone in this respect. Care will have to be taken during the transition that Mr. Hanthorn continues to be medication adherent and that there are no signs of decompensation. Mr. Hanthorn will continue to benefit from significant support. The evidence supports that the current Disposition best protects the public and supports Mr. Hanthorn's good health as he transitions. We wish Mr. Hanthorn well as he takes the next step in his progression.