Friday, July 29, 2011

Calvin Barry, Toronto Lawyer

Conrad's son faces own legal problems

By Michele Mandel ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Thursday, July 28, 2011 7:53:29 EDT PM


Jonathan Black, son of Conrad Black, sits in prisoner's box while his attorney, Calvin Barry, speaks to Judge Faith Finnistad at Old City Hall court on Thursday. (PAM DAVIES/Illustration)

TORONTO - While Conrad Black is enjoying his last days of freedom before heading back to an American prison, his eldest son is undergoing his own legal troubles right here at home.

Dressed in a smart grey suit and lavender shirt, Jonathan Black looked uncomfortably out of place Thursday in the crowded legal zoo that is Old City Hall.

Home to petty thieves, panhandlers and guilty pleas, busy Courtroom 112 with its roaring air conditioner and assembly line justice is far from the cushy Bay St. environs more typical for the bond trader and former model.

But here he is, nonetheless, on charges of criminal harassment, uttering threats and breach of probation.

I’ve watched his father many times in a Chicago courtroom and though the elder is obviously much older and heavier, the resemblance is striking. With his reddish hair, he’s reminiscent of a more handsome Conan O’Brien and in his younger days, he reportedly graced the cover of European magazines.

But we are far from the glamour world here.

Black, 33, was charged in December 2010 after his former girlfriend complained to Toronto Police that following their split after a one-year “tumultuous” relationship, he would not leave her alone, calling and messaging her repeatedly, once leaving as many as 60 text messages on her phone.

Black was released on bail on condition he not contact her again. Instead, police allege he resumed calling and texting, often to label her new boyfriend a “loser”.

He was charged again in March.

As it turns out, this wasn’t the first time the younger Black was in the chaotic court. Almost exactly three years ago, he was in Old City Hall to plead guilty to ramming his Infiniti into a stopped minivan in the financial district and then driving away.

His criminal charges were bumped down to Highway Traffic Act violations and he was ordered to pay $2,000 in fines for failing to remain at the scene, driving under suspension, and following too closely.

And that wasn’t his first brush with the law, either. According to previous media reports, the then 19-year-old part-time model was given a suspended sentence for making threats to cause bodily harm to a man and a woman.

A few weeks earlier, he had been released on $2,000 bail after being accused of uttering a death threat to another man. The court then ordered him to avoid alcohol, non-prescribed drugs and the company of criminals, and to reside at the Homewood Sanitorium in Guelph. The charge was later withdrawn.

So this wasn’t all new to him then. But before he could get this over with, there was the matter of a Mr. McDonald on the long morning docket.

With the air blowing, spectators in spandex minis loudly talking and the lack of microphone, we didn’t catch his first name. He came into the prisoner’s box with the bright orange jumpsuit of the Don Jail, long unkempt hair and a wide smile. He’d been charged with panhandling yet again in traffic under the Gardiner Expressway. He’d been picked up three days before and was now before Justice Faith Finnestad, ready to plead guilty.

The kindly judge decided to sentence him to the three days he’s already served but warned that he may not get so lucky the next time before a different justice. So she warned him to stay away from weaving among the stopped cars along Lake Shore Blvd. “It is not the crime of the century but it is a nuisance. Motorists are probably complaining and the police probably have other things to do than watch for you under the Gardiner.”

And, she pointed out, he does receive a monthly Ontario Disability check and has shelter staff willing to help him.

“That should be enough,” she told him. “So don’t go back.”

To which the gentleman heartily agreed and court was cleared for the morning break.

By the time we reconvened, the younger Black was nowhere to be seen. He’d obviously witnessed enough and with the agreement of the Crown, was allowed to leave the brief appearance to his lawyer Calvin Barry.

But the younger Black can only avoid the day of reckoning for so long.

He’s scheduled to be back in the same court at the end of August, about the same time his father heads back to prison.

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/28/jonathan-black-faces-court-like-dad-conrad