COURT FILE NO.: CR-22-10000301-0000
DATE: 20240312
ONTARIO
SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE
B E T W E E N:
HIS MAJESTY THE KING
- and -
MARTIN LEVY, Kristopher Matthews, JEVAUGHN MEYERS, JERMAINE WATSON, STEPHANIE WISEMAN and ZEYU ZANG
Erin Pancer, Colin Sheppard and Christopher Assie, for the Crown
Jessica Zita and Jason Dickson, for Ms. Wiseman
HEARD: September 5 and December 1, 2023; February 8 and 27, 2024
M. Forestell J.
REASONS FOR SENTENCE OF STEPHANIE WISEMAN
Circumstances of the Offence
[1] Stephanie Wiseman entered a guilty plea on September 5, 2023, to one count of kidnapping. Ms. Wiseman’s sentencing proceeded over three days in late 2023 and early 2024. I reserved my decision on sentencing until today.
[2] The charge against Ms. Wiseman arises out of the kidnapping of Wenbo Jin on January 21, 2020. Mr. Jin, an international student studying at the University of Toronto, was kidnapped and held at a house in Richmond Hill for 13 days while his kidnappers attempted to obtain ransom money from Mr. Jin’s parents.
[3] According to the agreed facts before me, in January of 2020 Ms. Wiseman was dating Martin Levy. On January 23, 2020, Ms. Wiseman was driven to a house in Richmond Hill by Mr. Levy. Upon arriving, she learned that Mr. Levy, Jevaughn Myers, Kristopher Matthews and others had kidnapped Mr. Jin and were holding him until a ransom was paid.
[4] Ms. Wiseman was at the house every day from January 23, 2020 until February 2, 2020 when the police arrived at the house, arrested the occupants and rescued Mr. Jin. Ms. Wiseman left the home on multiple days for short periods of time. Ms. Wiseman left the house on multiple occasions with Mr. Levy to shop for supplies for herself, Mr. Levy, Mr. Myers and Mr. Jin.
[5] While at the house, Ms. Wiseman smoked marijuana, drank alcohol and socialized with the others who were present.
[6] Ms. Wiseman acknowledged that she aided and abetted in the kidnapping by going shopping with other participants in the kidnapping and bringing back supplies for the kidnappers and the victim.
[7] Mr. Levy, who brought Ms. Wiseman to the house, went to trial and was acquitted.
Positions of the Parties
[8] The Crown seeks a sentence of 10 to 12 years’ imprisonment.
[9] Counsel for Ms. Wiseman submits that a conditional sentence of two years less a day should be imposed.
Victim Impact
[10] The victim, Mr. Jin, has provided a Victim Impact Statement. He reported that he was terrified by the ordeal and that he continues to be traumatized by the offence. The health of his family was also impacted by these offences. Mr. Jin’s education was interrupted by this offence. When contacted by the probation officer who prepared the Presentence Report with respect specifically to Ms. Wiseman, Mr. Jin told the probation officer that he was hurt by the fact that he “was kidnapped and they were just having fun”. He noted that Ms. Wiseman did nothing to help him. He thought that she should be punished but not harshly.
Circumstances of the Offender
[11] The Presentence Report and a report from Dr. Stephanie Bouskill, a forensic psychiatrist, set out in detail the background and circumstances of Ms. Wiseman.
[12] Ms. Wiseman is 32 years old. She currently lives in a small town in Ontario with her mother. Her parents divorced ten years ago when