It’s anticipated that a man accused of threatening the life of Prime Minister Mark Carney will soon enter guilty pleas. “I have instructions to schedule a sentencing date,” his lawyer, Adriano Iovinelli, told CTV News outside court Tuesday. “What we’re going to do on Thursday is set a date for him to tender his pleas of guilty, and then on that date make a request for a pre-sentence report or whatever other report is appropriate.” The accused, 31-year-old Jamie Dacosta, has not yet entered any pleas to the multiple matters he faces. Dacosta was arrested by the RCMP and charged with “uttering a threat to Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney to cause death.” The alleged threats against Carney, and members of the prime minister’s family, are said to have occurred in a YouTube video. Dacosta also faces a number of other charges not related to the alleged incident involving Carney. Those matters involve charges of extortion, criminal harassment, uttering threats to cause death, mischief (damage over $5,000) and being disguised with intent. All of Dacosta’s matters are being fielded together by one special prosecutor. In court Tuesday, Iovinelli pitched his need to speak with his client’s father for the purpose of a pre-sentence report. He requested, and was granted, a short adjournment to Thursday. Jamie Dacosta’s mother, Kathie Dacosta, reached out to CTV News recently and spoke of the difficulties her son has faced. “I’m not asking anyone to excuse what happened,” she said. “I’m asking people to understand that someone can be facing very serious charges while also being a person who may have been struggling profoundly with his mental and emotional health.” A video appearing to encourage Canadians to travel to Ottawa and commit an act of violence against Canada’s leader and members of his family was posted on a YouTube channel registered to a Jamie Dacosta. The video was one of many posted to that YouTube channel. All were blog-style videos. At least one of the videos mentioned mental-health struggles. The entire channel has since become inaccessible. “The channel was taken down for violating our community guidelines,” a representative from YouTube Canada told CTV News via email. Meantime, Dacosta remains in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre.
