Ontario Review Board
Re: Steven Brian Langevin
ORB File No: 6385
Hearing held on: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Place of hearing: Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. J. Mills
Members: Dr. P.L. Darby Dr. G. Stones Ms. M. Chamberlain Ms. B. Naegele
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Steven B. Langevin Counsel: Mr. D. Northcott
The Person in Charge of Hospital: Counsel: Mr. J. Thomson
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. M. Levasseur
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated March 26, 2025)
Introduction
[1]. On August 8, 2013, Steven Brian Langevin was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on charges of utter a threat to cause death or bodily harm and fail to comply with a probation order, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (the “Criminal Code”). Mr. Langevin is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) dated January 23, 2024, detaining him at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (“Waypoint” or the “Hospital”), with privileges up to and including the ability to access the hospital and grounds beyond the secure perimeter escorted by staff.
[2]. On January 21, 2025, a panel of the Board convened to review Mr. Langevin’s disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Langevin was present for his hearing and was represented by counsel throughout the proceedings. Mr. Langevin’s mother, who is his substitute decision maker (SDM) and father attended the hearing by video conference.
[3]. The issues to be determined are whether Mr. Langevin poses a significant threat to the safety of the public and, if so, the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage that risk having regard to the criteria set in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
[4]. At the commencement of the hearing, counsel for the Hospital submitted that Mr. Langevin remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and there should be no change to his current disposition. Counsel for the Attorney General and counsel for Mr. Langevin agreed with the Hospital’s submission. All parties maintained their respective positions in closing submissions.
[5]. For the reasons set out below, the Board finds that Mr. Langevin remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and there should be no change to his current disposition.
Evidence at the Hearing
[6]. The Board received documentary evidence in the form of a Hospital Report dated December 9, 2024, and an External Seclusion Consultation Report dated October 11, 2024, marked as Exhibits 1 and 2 respectively. The Board also heard viva voce testimony from Dr. Mishra, Mr. Langevin’s treating psychiatrist
Index Offence
[7]. The circumstances of the index offences are excerpted from last year’s Reasons for Disposition as follows
“On the 25th of May,2013 the accused did threaten the victim...a nurse at Health Sciences North by stating, "If you fly in this room, I'll kill you". The accused was being treated at the hospital on the sixth floor, the PIC UNIT, when the incident occurred. The victim is genuinely fearful for his safety. The accused is also on a valid Probation Order dated the 13th of March 2013 for a period of 18 months and signed by Justice Buttazoni with the conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.”
[8]. The Hospital Report outlines Mr. Langevin’s history and background and need not be repeated here in detail. In brief, Mr. Langevin is 39 years old. He left school in grade 10. He has a limited employment history and has been receiving ODSP since he was 18 years old. Mr. Langevin is single with no dependants.
[9]. Prior to the index offences, Mr. Langevin had a criminal record commencing in 2007, including, inter alia, convictions for assault (s), threatening and various breaches of court orders.
[10]. Prior to the index offences, Mr. Langevin had several hospital admissions. These admissions were largely the result of his paranoid and delusional mental state, flowing from his illness.
[11]. Following his NCR verdict in August of 2013, Mr. Langevin was detained at Waypoint. In January 2016, he was transferred to the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) where he progressed slowly until early 2019, when his behaviour worsened. In July 2019, he was returned to Waypoint, where he was placed in seclusion on five separate occasions during 2021 and 2022. On March 29, 2023, Mr. Langevin was transferred to NBRHC. On December 28, 2023, Mr. Langevin was admitted to the High Secure Provincial Forensic Program on a Form 3 of the Mental Health Act (MHA) following a serious assault on a staff member at NBRHC. On January 23, 2024, the Board ordered Mr. Langevin to be transferred back to Waypoint.
[12]. Mr. Langevin is diagnosed as suffering from schizoaffective disorder – bipolar type, mild neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury, provisional, intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder), moderate alcohol use disorder, in sustained remission, in a controlled environment; and cannabis use disorder, in sustained remission, in a controlled environment.
Testimony of Dr. Mishra
[13]. Dr. Mishra testified that he assumed Mr. Langevin’s care in December 2024. There have been no significant changes in his presentation since the Hospital Report was authored. Mr. Langevin remains in seclusion. He is in a regular bedroom with a toilet and a washbasin available to him. He has access to books and magazines. Mr. Langevin comes out up to two hours a day apart from when relief cannot be facilitated or if it is not clinically appropriate. Mr. Langevin continues to progress with seclusion relief and more recently exercised seclusion relief 22 times in 28 days. During seclusion relief, he watches television and is generally compliant. More recently, Mr. Langevin has requested adult material, which the treatment team is in the process of obtaining for him. Mr. Langevin’s prognosis for coming out of seclusion is fair. Mr. Langevin’s volatility remains the primary concern. The treatment team would like to see successful seclusion relief for a prolonged period before discontinuing seclusion.
[14]. In keeping with the external consultation, Mr. Langevin’s treatment is undergoing changes. His valproic acid is being optimized and paliperidone is being introduced into his medication regimen. Currently, he has had three paliperidone injections and the dose is anticipated to increase further. A complicating factor is that Mr. Langevin suffers from akathisia which results in him becoming restless and demonstrating some confusion and delirium. Another recommendation is for electro convulsive therapy (ECT). This will be considered once his pharmacological treatment is optimized. The treatment team continue to work on building Mr. Langevin’s anger management skills.
[15]. In accordance with the recommendation from the external consultant, consideration has been given to transferring Mr. Langevin to the Awenda Program. However, there are concerns around Mr. Langevin’s volatility and his ability to adapt to the Awenda environment. Currently, Mr. Langevin remains on Beckwith. The treatment team know him well and have expertise in dealing with people with intellectual disability.
[16]. Mr. Langevin underwent a neuropsychological assessment in 2022. Mr. Langevin functions in the moderate range of intellectual disability and significant impairment in terms of impulsivity and executive function. An MRI will be considered at some point.
[17]. The external consultant also suggested addressing Mr. Langevin’s history of trauma, specifically regarding self-reported historical sexual assault. However, before this can be undertaken Mr. Langevin will need a significant period of mental stability due to the potential destabilizing effect this may have.
[18]. Mr. Langevin's family remain very involved in his care and visit him by video.
Testimony of Mr. Langevin
[19]. Mr. Langevin addressed the Board. Because Mr. Langevin tended to mumble and speak quickly, some of what he said was difficult to understand but Mr. Langevin did indicate that he had been in the military, that he had been the head of CIA and that he was afraid of dying because he was afraid of the “fly ins” and the “fly outs.” Mr. Langevin also asserted that the pills that he is being given are not real pills and that he does not agree with what is in the Report as he is not a drug abuser.
Analysis
[20]. The Board accepts the evidence of Dr. Mishra as supported by the Hospital Report and finds that Mr. Langevin remains a significant threat to the safety of the public. Mr. Langevin suffers from treatment resistant schizophrenia. Mr. Langevin also has an acquired brain injury which has likely contributed to the refractory nature of his illness. The Hospital Report indicates that Mr. Langevin suffers from persecutory and paranoid delusions and believes that people are trying to kill him. Mr. Langevin also experiences perceptual disturbances and during these times believes he will be executed or that paramilitary organizations are after him.
[21]. Mr. Langevin has engaged in physical, verbal and environmental aggression during the year in review. Since his return to Waypoint in December 2023, Mr. Langevin has required seclusion on five occasions due to aggressive behaviour. More recently, he has been in seclusion since April 2, 2024. For these reasons, the Board finds that Mr. Langevin continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.
[22]. The Board further finds that there should be no change to Mr. Langevin’s disposition. Mr. Langevin continues to require the High Secure Provincial Forensic Program to manage his risk to the safety of the public. As stated, Mr. Langevin has been in seclusion since April 2024 and the Board acknowledges the necessity of the ongoing restriction of his liberty. Notwithstanding, Mr. Langevin is gradually progressing with seclusion relief and with some of the changes recommended by the external consultant there is hope that he will be able to progress out of seclusion. Mr. Langevin, he has recently received Developmental Disability Services (DSO) Passport funding, and it is hoped that once he is out of seclusion this will provide Mr. Langevin with some additional support to enable him to exercise more liberty and to assist with his eventual reintegration.
[23]. To his great benefit, Mr. Langevin continues to have the support of his family with whom he communicates regularly. This is a protective factor for Mr. Langevin and will benefit him going forward.
Disposition:
[24]. In making a disposition, the Board must take into consideration the criteria set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code, which is the safety of the public, which is the paramount consideration, the mental condition of the accused, the reintegration of the accused into society and the other needs of the accused.
[25]. For the foregoing reasons, the Board finds that Mr. Langevin continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that there should be no change to his disposition.
DATED this 26th day of March 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. J. Mills Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board