Ontario Review Board
Re: Christopher Brett Jaeger
ORB File No: 3800
Hearing held on: Monday, December 15, 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. C. MacIntyre, KC
Members: Dr. K. Hand Dr. M. Kalia Mr. J. Goldenberg Mr. R. Rainboth
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Christopher B. Jaeger Counsel: Mr. K. Quinlan
The person in charge of hospital: Representative: Dr. M. Pearce
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated January 22, 2026)
Introduction
On June 6, 2003, Christopher Brett Jaeger was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of fail to comply with a recognizance, cause a disturbance and aggravated assault, all contrary to the Criminal Code. Mr. Jaeger is currently subject to an Ontario Review Board Disposition of December 23, 2024, which orders him detained within the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences with privileges up to and including to live in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge.
On December 15, 2025, the Ontario Review Board convened at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (“Ontario Shores”) to conduct Mr. Jaeger’s annual review and to make a disposition further to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code.
Counsel for the parties were invited to present their preliminary positions. The hospital recommended no change to Mr. Jaeger’s current Detention Order. Both Crown counsel and accused’s counsel concurred with this recommendation. All parties acknowledged that Mr. Jaeger continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.
Dr. Pearce, testifying on behalf of the hospital, indicated that the hospital would prefer to retain the wording of Mr. Jaeger’s Detention Order which states that he “... be detained within the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences”. As the evidence will disclose, Mr. Jaeger had been moved to a general forensic ward of the hospital within the Forensic Program.
At the conclusion of the evidence, the Board agreed with the joint submission on the terms of the disposition and the accused’s significant threat status, but ordered that the wording of Mr. Jaeger’s Detention Order should read “detained in a General Forensic Unit of the hospital”.
Index Offences
- A Hospital Report of December 1, 2025, was filed as the only exhibit at this hearing. It contains details of the index offences of aggravated assault, causing a disturbance and failure to comply with recognizance. These offences were summarized in last year's Reasons for Disposition as follows:
“On April 16, 2001, Easter Monday, Mr. Jaeger and his roommate went to watch movies at the home of a new acquaintance of Mr. Jaeger who was the victim of the assault. The victim was intoxicated when they arrived and, while the three were renting movies, threatened the clerk at the store. Once back at the victim’s apartment the victim continued drinking whiskey while Mr. Jaeger and his roommate declined. The victim was dancing and began to disrobe, removed his penis, fondled it and attempted to hug first the roommate and then Mr. Jaeger with his penis out. The victim grabbed first the roommate’s and then Mr. Jaeger’s crotch and said, “nice crotch.”
The victim became violent and slapped the roommate who then left. Mr. Jaeger stayed, as he reported he did not feel threatened and wanted to watch the movie. When Mr. Jaeger continued to refuse to drink alcohol with the victim the victim put his hands around Mr. Jaeger’s neck and squeezed. Mr. Jaeger tried to push his hands away. The victim bent Mr. Jaeger’s hand back breaking a bone. Mr. Jaeger asked him to let go of his hand. He then believed he saw a demon that looked like a crocodile go into the victim and believed he had to subdue the demon by rendering it unconscious or it would kill him. He punched the victim in the mouth, and they wrestled on the floor. Mr. Jaeger pounded the victim’s head onto the floor by his hair 3-4 times until he stopped fighting and then a few more times until the victim lost consciousness. He told the police that he had “beat the fuck” out of the victim when asked what happened and was arrested. At the time of the incident Mr. Jaeger had run out of medication and been unable to refill his prescription due to the holiday. He said had not consumed any alcohol or drugs. His roommate said he had been drinking with the victim.
On May 4th, 2002, Mr. Jaeger and his dog were at a neighbour’s apartment when his neighbour’s father told him to take his dog and leave. Mr. Jaeger yelled obscenities at the father, left and returned with a jar of bugs he slammed onto the neighbour’s table and continued to yell obscenities at them and their movers. He was arrested for causing a disturbance and was violent and irrational with the police.
On October 16, 2002, after poking at the plastic cover on a stroller on the bus and being confronted by the baby’s father, he attracted the attention of police. He exited the bus and was inappropriately dressed for the weather and intoxicated. At the time he was on a recognizance with a term requiring him to abstain from the consumption of alcohol.”
Background
The filed Hospital Report of Dec 01, 2025, contains information about Mr. Jaeger’s personal, psychiatric and criminal contact history and that report should be referred to for detail. Mr. Jaeger’s mother has reported that Mr. Jaeger’s father demonstrated paranoid behaviour. There was also a history of alcoholism on both sides of the family and ADHD on the maternal side.
From an early age, Mr. Jaeger exhibited odd behaviours and was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in primary school. Mr. Jaeger has a history of using drugs and alcohol heavily and living on the streets for a time. His substance abuse over the years included alcohol and street drugs including cocaine. Alcohol and substance use while under the Review Board’s jurisdiction continued, as did his difficulty in adhering to ward rules and controlling verbal and physical aggression.
Mr. Jaeger is diagnosed with: Psychotic Disorder due to another medical condition, with delusions, Narcissistic Personality Traits or Disorder and Polysubstance Use Disorder.
Although Mr. Jaeger has not been physically violent with others since 2021 (but for the March 2025 incident referred to in today’s evidence), he has continued to be verbally aggressive. His treatment team has deemed that his verbal aggression was of such a degree that it would qualify as a criminal offence and result in psychological harm to members of the public.
At last year’s hearing, the Board heard evidence of continued verbal aggression and some physical aggression towards objects rather than persons. It was suspected that Mr. Jaeger was using alcohol while on the Forensic Treatment Unit. Mr. Jaeger asked to be permitted to use cannabis. Dr. DeFreitas testified that this would increase Mr. Jaeger’s paranoia and therefore increase his risk to members of the public and hospital staff. The then Board panel continued the prohibition of cannabis use in Mr. Jaeger’s Disposition.
Evidence at Hearing
Dr. Pearce had been Mr. Jaeger’s treating psychiatrist until Mr. Jaeger’s transfer to a general unit in mid November 2025. Dr. Pearce adopted the contents of the Dec 01, 2025, hospital report which included an incident of March 5, 2025, when Mr. Jaeger required seclusion and five-point restraints. He punched the nursing station glass and threatened staff and seriously assaulted a guard who intervened. He admitted to being drunk. A Restriction of Liberty hearing took place before the Board and his restriction was found to be necessary and appropriate.
Following this incident, Dr. Pearce assessed Mr. Jaeger on March 11,2025 as incapable of consenting to treatment with antipsychotic medication. Mr. Jaeger applied to the CCB to challenge the finding of incapacity; three hearings were adjourned and a CCB hearing was scheduled for late April. The hospital report states that “Ultimately, he agreed that he tended to interpret others actions in a paranoid fashion, and he agreed to a trial of Abilify Maintena. He concurred with Dr. Pearce, in that a new treatment approach should be tried. Thus, at present, he remains capable with respect to treating his mental disorders.” He remains capable of consenting to treatment.
Abilify made a difference to Mr. Jaeger’s presentation, however he persisted in his request to use cannabis. Dr. Pearce supported a trial of controlled cannabis use and persuaded the Person in Charge to allow a trial of licensed cannabis pills which Mr. Jaeger now continues to take.
Dr. Pearce agrees that there has been no observed adverse change in Mr. Jaeger’s mental state and it may have even improved. The hospital evidence is that Mr. Jaeger is now less paranoid and free of delusions and his insight has improved. Mr. Jaeger was returned to the Forensic Psychiatric Rehabilitation Unit and began indirectly supervised ground passes in November.
Dr. Pearce testified that about a week before today’s hearing, Mr. Jaeger consumed alcohol. He initially denied this but ultimately agreed that he had consumed alcohol at a Scandinavian “drink Yule” celebration. He now views that his one-pill-a-day cannabis pill and alcohol do not mix well.
Dr. Pearce testified that Mr. Jaeger’s current level of cannabis use has not caused any change in his psychosis or his behaviour. He has been working hard at the gym and has cooperated with counseling. He has generally done well since his restriction of liberty hearing. Mr. Jaeger now agrees that medications are needed and, except for the use of alcohol in the past week, he has been free of alcohol use.
The hospital will continue to target reducing Mr. Jaeger’s anxiety and cravings for alcohol. In the coming months, the hospital expects to move Mr. Jaeger towards indirect passes into the community where he can visit with the family.
Mr. Jaeger’s mother lives close to the Quebec border and at past hearings, Mr. Jaeger had requested a transfer to the Quebec Review Board. A term providing for this is contained at Clause 5 of Mr. Jaeger’s current Disposition. Mr.Quinlan advised the Board that now Mr. Jaeger has no interest in pursuing this and agrees to its removal from his Disposition. No objection to this was made by other counsel.
Decision
The parties jointly submitted that Mr. Jaeger continues to be a significant threat to the safety of the public and that his current Disposition remain in place absent the reference to a request for transfer to the Province of Quebec.
The Board agrees with the joint submission and adopts the clinical assessment of risk in the Hospital Report which states: “absent a disposition of the Board he would discontinue his psychotropic medication, return to use of alcohol (and possibly other substances) and migrate to unsuitable housing. He would not work with psychiatric care providers. At that juncture there would be a real risk of him causing serious physical or psychological harm to members of the public.”
Additionally, the Board views that a more specific order detaining Mr. Jaeger in the general forensic ward where he currently resides, better reflects his actual placement in the Forensic Program of the hospital.
DATED this 22nd day of January 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. C. MacIntyre, KC
Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board