Re Scott J. Schutzman aka Prof. Starson, 2026 CanLII 34199

Ontario Review Board

Re: Scott J. Schutzman aka Prof. Starson

ORB File No. 2852

Hearing Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026

Hearing Location: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

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

Before:

Alternate Chairperson: Ms. L. Banks

Members: Dr. S. Lessard
Dr. J. Cheston Ms. A. La Viola Mr. J. Cyr

Parties Appearing:

Accused: Scott J. Schutzman aka Prof. Starson Amicus Curiae: Ms. A. Szigeti

The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. M. Warner

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

REASONS FOR DISPOSITION

(Dated April 15, 2026)

Introduction:

1. On November 24, 1998, Scott J. Schutzman aka Prof. Starson, was found not criminally responsible (“NCR”) on two counts of utter threat to cause death, contrary to the Criminal Code. At the outset of the hearing, it was confirmed that the accused prefers to be addressed as Prof. Starson. He will be referred to by that name in these Reasons.

2. Prof. Starson is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB” or the “Board”) dated March 14, 2025, detaining him at the General Forensic Unit of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (“CAMH” or the “hospital”) with discretionary privileges up to living in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge (“PIC”) of the hospital. His Disposition also includes reporting at least every four weeks; abstinence from substances (with the exception of cannabis); provision of samples for substance monitoring; a weapons prohibition; a no-contact clause; and travel restrictions.

3. On March 26, 2026, the Board convened a hearing at CAMH to conduct the annual review of Prof. Starson’s Disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Prof. Starson was present for the hearing and was assisted by Amicus Curiae, Ms. Szigeti.

4. The issues for the panel to decide were first whether Prof. Starson remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and, if so, what is the necessary and appropriate Disposition for the coming year based on a consideration of the factors in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.

5. For the reasons which follow, the Board finds Prof. Starson is a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate Disposition for the coming year is that he be discharged subject to a variety of terms and conditions as set forth at the conclusion of these Reasons.

Initial Positions of the Parties:

6. At the commencement of this hearing, counsel advised the panel of their respective initial positions regarding the issue of significant threat and Disposition recommendations.

7. Hospital counsel stated that Prof. Starson continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and recommended that Prof. Starson be discharged subject to a variety of terms and conditions, including reporting no less than once every four weeks and a residence clause.

8. Counsel for the Crown supported the hospital’s recommendation.

9. Prof. Starson made comments that his ultimate goal was to live in the White House but that in the interim, he would live at the King Edward Hotel. He did not contest the hospital’s recommendation.

10. Amicus took no initial position.

11. All parties maintained their initial positions in closing submissions.

Index Offences:

12. The circumstances of the index offences are set forth in detail in the Hospital Report dated March 2, 2026 (the “Hospital Report”) and may be summarized as set forth in last year’s ORB Reasons for Disposition dated April 10, 2025, as follows:

“The landlord at the premises where Prof. Starson was residing called police over an apparent landlord/tenant dispute. Police were dispatched but took some time in arriving. A police dispatcher called the residence to say the police would be late in attending but were coming. The telephone was answered by another tenant. Prof. Starson picked up the phone receiver and threatened the other tenant’s life. Police took him into custody. On the way to the station, he threatened one of the attending officers.”

Personal and Psychiatric Background:

13. Prof. Starson is currently 70 years old. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Toronto at the age of 15. He obtained a degree in electronic engineering and was employed in the Toronto area for a number of years. He has been under the jurisdiction of the ORB for approximately 28 years.

14. In last year’s ORB Reasons, Prof. Starson’s extensive history under the Board is detailed and we adopt again this information; however, we note briefly that his psychiatric history began in 1985 with numerous hospital admissions in Ontario and the United States.

15. Following the finding of NCR in 1998, Prof. Starson was generally described as agitated and threatening. He was refusing medication, so his psychotic symptoms continued. In August 1999, he was transferred to the maximum secure unit at the Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre, Oak Ridge Division (now known as Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care). In 2003, he was transferred to the Royal Ottawa Hospital and then later, to the Brockville Mental Health Centre.

16. In 2005, the Consent and Capacity Board (“CCB”) upheld a finding that he was incapable of making decisions regarding his psychiatric treatment, and the hospital began antipsychotic medication. His mental state improved sufficiently to allow him to be discharged from hospital to a subsidized apartment in 2007.

17. Although he was able to live in the community for approximately 4 years, there was repeated noncompliance with medication, instability in his mental condition and numerous readmissions to hospital. In the spring 2008, he refused to comply with injectable antipsychotic medication, resulting in significant deterioration and prominent threatening and aggressive behaviour.

18. The medication was resumed in January 2009. There was an improvement in his mental state, and he was discharged back to the community in July 2010. However, he was noncompliant with treatment once again which resulted in Prof. Starson being readmitted to hospital.

19. He was discharged into the community in February 2011, and with improved stability, he received a Conditional Discharge from the ORB in June 2012. Four years later, his mental state declined to the point where the hospital believed Prof. Starson’s risk to the public could not be properly managed on a Conditional Discharge. On July 29, 2016, a new Disposition was issued by the ORB detaining him at CAMH with the opportunity for community living. He continued to experience highly psychotic behaviour including grandiose, paranoid and referential delusions, thought disorder and auditory hallucinations. He engaged in multiple episodes of verbally agitated, hostile and intimidating behaviour, including threats to kill. He was detained on a General Forensic Unit at the hospital.

20. The Hospital Report indicates that in late 2019, he suffered another decompensation and his mental state and was required to be transferred to a more secure unit Forensic Assessment and Triage Unit in January 2020. Another CCB hearing was held in March 2020, and the hospital’s finding of Prof. Starson’s incapacity finding was upheld. He remained detained on FATU as he continued to suffer from psychotic symptoms as well as behavioural concerns particularly when interacting with female staff.

21. Prof. Starson was transferred to a General Forensic Unit in February 2022, and he was discharged to LOFT–operated transitional housing on July 4, 2023.

Evidence at the Hearing:

22. The Hospital Report was entered into the hearing as an exhibit and it was augmented by the testimony of Dr. P. Benassi, who endorsed the contents of the Hospital Report and advised, there were no significant updates thereto. Dr. Benassi advised that he has worked with Prof. Starson since 2022.

23. Prof. Starson continues to be assessed as incapable of consenting to psychiatric treatment, and he receives a long-acting injection (“LAI”) of the antipsychotic medication, Paliperidone, every four weeks. He will accept medication administration; however, he has commented that his medication is terrible, and he would prefer to stop.

24. Since March 2, 2024, Prof. Starson has used cannabis daily, typically smoking a joint every five hours. He has denied use of alcohol or any other substances. He states that cannabis improves his motor symptoms and enhances his intelligence. He has commented that if not allowed access to marijuana, aliens would kill thousands of people. Despite his chronic use of cannabis (as permitted by his ORB Disposition), there have been no observable signs of acute mental decompensation noted while he has remained compliant with his LAI. Prof. Starson refuses to provide urine samples when requested.

25. Prof. Starson is supported in the community by his outpatient psychiatrist, Dr. Benassi, and case worker, Ms. A. Dam, through the Expanded Forensic Outpatient Program (“EFOPS”). He meets with Ms. Dam 2 to 5 times per week and monthly with Dr. Benassi. Until his move to permanent housing described below, he was also receiving supports from LOFT’s transitional housing team.

26. Prof. Starson transitioned from his LOFT housing to permanent housing at St. Anne’s Place on May 28, 2025. There are staff on-site 24/7 at this residence. His transition was gradual, starting with visits to the apartment. He was initially resistant to the proposal that he move there, and he expressed longstanding grandiose delusions, including claims that he owned the LOFT transitional residence, that he intended to relocate to the King Edward Hotel or the White House. As well, he made vague threats that aliens would cause global disasters if he were moved to the new residence. Over time, and with supports, he gradually became more accepting, and he has transitioned to St. Anne’s without major incident.

27. His current residence is a two-bedroom unit with a private bathroom and balcony, with meals and supportive staff on site. He is permitted to smoke cannabis on his balcony. He has not interacted much with co-residents as he has stated that they are not “life forms” and cannot be befriended. These beliefs are consistent with his ongoing delusions. There is no psychiatrist or caseworker associated with the new residence.

28. As has been the case for many years, Prof. Starson continues to express pervasive bizarre and grandiose delusions, as well as ongoing auditory hallucinations. His thought content reflects a complex system of paranoid, grandiose, and self-referential delusions; however, he has denied thoughts of self-harm, suicidal ideation, or violent intent. Typically, his thoughts are disorganized, especially when discussing delusional material. He is observed to frequently respond to internal stimuli and he reports receiving messages from others.

29. The Hospital Report indicates: “These delusions continue to have practical consequences. He becomes irritable, upset and loud if his beliefs are challenged, if he is not addressed as “Superman” or “Professor Starson” or when feeling stressed. When limits are set, he may respond with delusional verbal threats (e.g., “people are going to be killed because of this,”), although these threats were typically improbable and rooted in his delusional system. He occasionally he made more direct statement (e.g., “All psychiatrist will be murdered and are not lifeforms”). In such circumstances, the treatment team has required, clarification, and he has stated that any violence would be carried out by aliens, and that he does not personally harbor, homicidal intent. While living in the community, the frequency of threats has decreased and appear mostly triggered by moments of stress.”

30. Regarding insight into his illness and treatment, Prof. Starson does not believe that he suffers from a mental illness or that he requires medication. He has stated that his LAI makes him feel “lousy” and that the only substance he needs is cannabis. He has openly stated that if discharged from the ORB, he will no longer take his prescribed medication, and he would likely leave Canada to live in the White House. He has denied that the index offences occurred but if so, he was just making threatening comments in the past which he states is allowed pursuant to freedom of speech laws.

31. The Hospital Report addresses the risks associated with granting Prof. Starson a Conditional Discharge. The specific risk items present and highly relevant are “Stress or Coping and Treatment or Supervision Response.” Further, the Hospital Report indicates that:

“Overall, based on the SAPROF and HCR-20 V3 scoring, and the clinical risk factors, Starson’s risk is judge to be in the low-risk range for violent re-offence with the current supports in place and the recommended [Conditional Discharge] Disposition.” Of note, The Hospital Report indicates that “Under an absolute discharge, potential risk management concerns would include future challenges related to living situation, access to professional services, adherence to treatment or supervision, stress and coping, and availability of personal support. Mr. Starson requires substantial support during any transitions in care, as changes in care teams have historically precipitated stress and mental health destabilization. He has expressed an unwillingness to follow through with mental health care plans if he is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Review Board and the current clinical team. There is a significant risk that, without the oversight of the ORB, he may disengage from treatment, resulting in mental decompensation and an increased likelihood of risk-related behaviours.”

32. Dr. Benassi stated that at this juncture, Prof. Starson is now able to be safely managed under a Conditional Discharge as he is settled in permanent housing where he is well supported.

33. No further evidence was called by the parties.

Analysis and Conclusions:

34. Prof. Starson suffers from a treatment resistant schizophrenia. His psychotic symptoms have continued unabated for years despite adherence to his prescribed LAI. Prof. Starson expresses a marked lack of insight across all relevant domains, including acknowledging he suffers from a major mental illness, an awareness of its symptoms and the need for treatment (which he denies). Prof. Starson is incapable of making treatment decisions and Ms. S. Alexander is his Substitute Decision Maker for this purpose. Prof. Starson has been receiving a monthly LAI of an antipsychotic medication but still believes it does not assist him. He believes he derives benefit from cannabis use.

35. The question for the Board is whether the presence of his major mental illness and its ongoing symptoms creates a reasonable likelihood of danger to the public. The Board is aware that the evidence indicates Prof. Starson has not engaged in physical violence since 2008. Although Prof. Starson has had multiple periods of psychotic deterioration since 2008, they have not been associated with any direct physical violence. However, Prof. Starson has a long history of threatening and intimidating others - conduct which has continued in the past reporting year. The Board understands that the threats are made to instill fear and must be taken seriously.

36. Prof. Starson’s history of threatening behaviour is detailed in the Hospital Report and we note that his targets have included his attending psychiatrists, health care providers, the police, and people in the community. He has had to be moved to more secure hospital units or have his attending doctors changed due to his threatening behaviour. His actions demonstrate an attempt to dominate and intimidate others. The Board is satisfied that there is a high likelihood of significant psychological harm to others from his actions. This aspect of Prof. Starson’s risk has remained unchanged over time.

37. His behaviour has been managed over the years by close oversight by his treatment teams, housing providers, the protective and structured environment of the hospital and his community accommodations. Without medication compliance, Prof. Starson’s affective and behavioural control would be highly likely to acutely deteriorate, with the likely result that his delusional content would become more hostile and paranoid and his behaviour would become more aggressive. In 2002 and 2008, he assaulted co-patients when his illness was untreated.

38. The Board is satisfied that if Prof. Starson was not under the jurisdiction of the Board, he would likely become verbally threatening after disengaging from care and discontinuing his medication. This is the expert opinion of Dr. Benassi and the treatment team and is reflected in the Hospital Report, which the Board accepts. If untreated, Prof. Starson would be at risk of causing serious psychological harm to others and the risk of occurrence is considered high. The Board finds that other persons would feel fear from Prof. Starson’s threats and that the threats would be taken seriously. In light of all of the evidence referred to above, the Board makes a positive finding that Prof. Starson remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.

39. Having come to a finding of significant threat, the Board is tasked with making the least restrictive and least onerous Disposition for Prof. Starson bearing in mind the paramount goal of ensuring the safety of the public.

40. Given that Prof. Starson is now settled in his current housing, which has been approved by his out-patient treatment team and has transitioned there successfully without the need for any hospital readmissions, the Board is confident that the inclusion of a residency condition will be appropriate to manage this risk factor. Prof. Starson is amenable to remaining at his current. Residence and his Disposition will mandate that. His housing at St. Anne’s is permanent and he is well-supported at this residence. Further, a Conditional Discharge Disposition allows for forensic service oversight for the coming year to ensure Prof. Starson continues to be optimally treated and his risk well managed.

41. The Board also notes that despite daily use of cannabis, Prof. Starson’s mental state has not suffered any decompensation as he has remained compliant with his LAI antipsychotic medication.

42. Further, Prof. Starson has not required any apprehension under his Detention Order since his most recent discharge to living in the community. At this stage of his reintegration, the Board agrees with the joint recommendation of the parties that he can be safely managed under a Conditional Discharge Disposition. We concur with the hospital’s evidence and agree that the outpatient team should be able to effectively intervene and manage any future mental health concerns under the authority of the Mental Health Act, if there was any deterioration in Prof. Starson’s mental state.

43. In light of the foregoing, the Board has concluded that the necessary and appropriate Disposition at this juncture is a Conditional Discharge on the following terms and conditions:

• he shall reside at St. Anne’s Place located at 661 Dufferin Street in Toronto, ON;

• when living in the community, report to the PIC of the hospital, or his/her designate, not less than once every four weeks, or as required;

• he shall abstain absolutely from the non-medical use of alcohol or drugs or any other intoxicant, except cannabis marijuana and no other type of cannabis, provided that such cannabis may only come from a government licensed dispensary, and that upon request he shall produce to the treatment team all receipts for any purchases of cannabis;

• he shall refrain from contact or communication, direct or indirect, with David Spaulding and Barry McCarty; and

• he shall not travel outside of Ontario without prior approval of his itinerary and expressed permission of the PIC of the hospital, or his or her designate.

44. The Board congratulates Prof. Starson for the success he has achieved over the past year and wish him well in the year ahead.

45. In arriving at our Disposition, the Board has considered the paramount factor of public safety, Prof. Starson’s community reintegration, his mental condition and his other needs as required by s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.

Dated this 15^th^ day of April, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.

Ms. L. Banks

Alternate Chairperson

__________________

Office of the Registrar

Ontario Review Board