BRANTFORD, ONTARIO – A judge in Brantford, Ontario unequivocally rejected the notion of imposing house arrest as a sentence for three brothers involved in a violent vigilante attack at a Dunnville park in 2020.
Last month, Justice Colette Good emphasized that despite some factors favoring a community sentence, the extreme brutality of the assault on an underage victim warranted a prison sentence for the three brothers. The judge described the attacks as callous and cowardly, stating that the video evidence of the beating was shocking, brutal, and potentially fatal.
The Caissie brothers – Tyler Caissie, now 26, Lawrence Caissie, 24, and Brandon Caissie, 21 – all admitted guilt to aggravated assault in the park brawl on August 12, 2020. Armed with a baseball bat, hammer, and broken stick, they confronted a group of teenagers who had previously assaulted the youngest brother and stolen his beer.
Their three teenage adversaries armed themselves with golf clubs, leading to a violent confrontation at Central Park in Dunnville. The brothers and a fourth individual escalated the situation by initiating the fight, using weapons, and targeting vulnerable victims.
The most severe injuries were inflicted on one of the teens, who suffered skull fractures, brain bleeds, a broken elbow, and lasting physical and emotional trauma. The judge acknowledged the challenging circumstances of the Caissie brothers’ upbringing, but emphasized the seriousness of their actions and their lack of remorse.
Despite the brothers’ lack of criminal records and their cooperation with the legal process, the judge deemed house arrest inadequate for the gravity of their offenses. She highlighted the need for accountability, public trust in the justice system, and prevention of further vigilantism.
Tyler Caissie, the most aggressive of the trio, received an 18-month jail term for his role in the assault, while Lawrence Caissie and Brandon Caissie were sentenced to 12 months and nine months, respectively. All three will also serve a two-year probation and face restrictions on weapons and contact with their victims upon release.