Jury convicts Bill Denby on death threats, harassment and intimidation charges

The trial against a Cameron resident concluded today. Bill Denby faced charges of uttering death threats, criminal harassment and intimidating a justice participant. The trial began on Aug. 24 and was expected to wrap up in 10 days.

After three hours of deliberation, the jury found Denby guilty on all charges.

Denby pleaded not guilty and represented himself. The case was heard by a 12‑member jury, with Justice Lisa Wannamaker presiding and Crown attorney Natasha Jerome leading the prosecution.

The trial centred on a threatening April 9, 2024, email sent to CAO Ron Taylor, and forwarded to council members, which talked about bringing war against council and mentioning that the sender didn’t want to sentence anyone to death but would if they weren’t heard out.

Authorship of the email was up to the jury to determine, with no technology in existence that can prove who physically typed out an email. The Crown argued to the jury that Denby admitted to sending emails from the email account, as well as several consistencies in his style of writing, including random capitalizations, and Denby referring to himself in the first person.

Denby denied he had written the email, saying that Kawartha Lakes Police had fabricated it.

The other central piece of evidence was a video Denby, and associates recorded of them trying to take over a March 19 council meeting. Denby was denied the opportunity to make a deputation, where he questioned the city’s budget and claimed millions of dollars were missing.

Police were called after Denby refused to listen to Mayor Doug Elmslie’s orders to sit down or leave the premises. Denby was soon afterwards given a no trespassing order.

Denby told the jury that his goal on March 19 was to provide council with evidence that he said would prove the budget was inaccurate and that millions of dollars were unaccounted for. He also said as a member of the Kawartha Lakes First Nation (an unrecognized group) he deserved to have council consult him before digging on his land.

During closing, Denby claimed that following the March 19 meeting, council held a closed meeting where a plan to “kill Bill” was made. “They knew I wouldn’t stop,” Denby said. He alleged that the “kill Bill” plan was a coordinated effort by city staff, council and the police to silence him, and to make him look like a “lunatic.”

The jury had to determine if they believed Denby had authored the April 9 email and was the one who sent threatening voicemails to Coun. Mike Perry and Tracy Richardson. Denby claimed the voicemails were “spoofs,” but the Crown argued enough personal information was included in the voicemails for there to be no doubt he was the one who authored it or instructed someone to send it.

Councillors testified that they saw Denby lingering in the halls and after receiving a trespassing order, Denby was seen parked across the street from City Hall. He was following his trespassing order, however councillors claimed he parked there specifically to film them and make them fearful.

Perry and Richardson, along with Coun. Dan Joyce, testified to the lifestyle changes they made in response to Denby’s constant email communications with them. Many of them installed security cameras, changed the times they were at City Hall to avoid running into Denby, and they all had a fear for the safety of themselves and their families.

During recess’s Denby was heard in the halls repeatedly saying that no matter the outcome, he would be going to the court of appeals, as he felt he hadn’t received a fair trial. Denby claims Wanamaker refused to accept his “submissible” [sic] evidence.

Sentencing will happen at a later date.