Judge cites damaging effects of internet in sentencing for threats

ROSSBURN — A Russell man who repeatedly made threats against police was sentenced to almost a year and half of time served, with the judge citing the damaging effects of the internet.

But the judge denied the Crown’s request to ban Michael Man, 46, from the community during his three years of probation.

“Man found himself radicalized in his beliefs, making violent threats against those he blames for challenges in his life,” Judge Donovan Dvorak said while delivering Man’s sentence in Rossburn provincial court on Wednesday.

“This type of communication maybe seems to have been normalized by the media, but it is unacceptable criminal conduct. In a world where peace officers and other citizens are murdered by radicalized people, words that convey an intention to commit … harms are not legitimate expressions of dissatisfaction.”

Dvorak previously convicted Man of uttering threats after a trial, and Man later pleaded guilty to three additional counts.

All four counts included behaviour “similar in nature,” with threats to cause death to peace officers, their families and government employees by way of the internet and emails, the judge said.

Russell RCMP received several complaints about Man sending threatening messages, including toward police, on Jan. 30, 2025.

One of the messages from Man said, “Typical worthless pig f—s in costumes came here to harass me for taking pictures … Next time that happens, I’ll wait for supper hour and kick in their door and get the whole family.”

On Sept. 8, 2025, a police officer received a chain of emails between Man and a Brandon Correctional Centre employee, in which Man made comments about his treatment while incarcerated in 2023.

One of the messages said, “I’m going to have no choice but to hunt the provincial and federal employees responsible for my stay.”

Saskatchewan RCMP contacted Russell RCMP on Nov. 6, 2025, and said they had been notified of threats that had been sent to Pattison Media.

In the email, Man said, “F— the police. Only good cops are dead cops. Nobody seems to want to release the details of the three pig f—s that violently assaulted me at gunpoint in the dark as vigilante justice.”

He continued by writing, “I know the RCMP member personally, and he’s going to find himself thrown through the woodchipper out on his front lawn.”

At a sentencing hearing in May, Crown attorney Ron Toews recommended a sentence of two years, followed by three years of probation, with a condition prohibiting Man from being in Russell.

The Rural Municipality of Russel Binscarth also previously submitted a letter to the court asking it to ban Man from the RM, which includes the Town of Russell.

Defence lawyer Ryan Amy argued for a sentence of time served, which was the equivalent of about 16 months at the time. Amy was opposed to a condition banning Man from Russell. He said it is his home and he “does not have anywhere else to go.”

Dvorak said a probation condition banning someone from their home community is “rarely lawful” and noted that in his 32 years in the criminal justice system, as both a prosecutor and judge, he couldn’t remember a time when he had asked for that order or granted it.

“Although some of the victims live in Russell, the offending was such that it could have occurred regardless of whether Mr. Man was in fact in the community,” he said.

Banishing him from his home community would have a negative impact on Man’s rehabilitation, Dvorak added, and would simply move the risk to a different community.

In his decision, Dvorak said one could make the argument that the internet has been a “net negative for society” and has radicalized people “passively through algorithms that direct people to increasingly polarized media” and, in some cases, actively by groups and people who profit from it.

Young people are particularly vulnerable, but older people are not immune, he said.

“It seems we can no longer agree on foundational facts. Many people believe that the Earth is flat. They believe that climate change doesn’t exist. They believe the moon landing was fake,” he said.

“Conspiratorial thinking that would have others question their sanity 20 years ago (is) now considered a debate by some. Ad hominem attacks and violent rhetoric against those with whom one disagrees have become normalized online and increasingly in life in general.”

He said this is where Man falls.

While rehabilitation remained a factor, Dvorak said Man’s offences required a “significant custodial sentence” that sends a message of deterrence and denunciation. A sentence in the range of 18 months would be appropriate, he said.

Dvorak included several other conditions in his probation order, including that Man is to have no contact or communication with any member of the Russell RCMP, Roblin RCMP or Rossburn RCMP unless required in the course of their duties.

Additionally, he is prohibited from being within 100 metres of the home, workplace, school or place of worship of any member of those RCMP detachments, except that the RCMP may bring Man to the Russell RCMP detachment if required as part of their duties.

The order will prohibit him from owning a device with access to the internet, with the exception of having one cellphone for emergencies and online banking. It will also prohibit him from accessing any social media.

While Man had the equivalent of 536 days of time served to his credit, which is four days shy of 18 months, Dvorak said he didn’t see value in Man serving the extra handful of days and sentenced him to time served.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com