Dylan Zona, 31, of Ontario, Canada, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for criminally harassing four individuals, including two police officers and a judge, between 2022 and 2024. The sentence was handed down at Barrie County Court on Monday.
Court Justice Nancy Dawson characterized Zona's actions as "hate-motivated," noting his obsessive targeting of police officers and their families. During one incident, Zona contacted an officer's mother and made threats to harm her grandchildren and poison the family dog. He also stated he had the right to put one of the officers "six feet under."
During a prior court appearance in 2024, Zona directed vulgar and misogynistic insults at regional senior judge Cecilia Applegate, telling her to "shut your wh--e mouth." He also made additional offensive remarks in court.
Despite being released on bail and fitted with an ankle monitor, Zona continued to post insulting and threatening comments on Facebook, targeting police, judges, and female court staff. One post allegedly demanded a female judge show him her breasts, and in other public posts, he argued about law enforcement and told a relative of police officers that their loved ones should "die."
Zona claimed he was suffering from mental health issues and alcohol addiction, stating he began hearing voices and experiencing anger after "bad interactions" with officers. He told the court, "I haven't hurt anybody. I haven't killed anybody. I can still say I am sorry. I understand it's an honest mistake. It's words."
He also shared details about his troubled family background, including the murder of his father by his uncle when Zona was three, his mother's addiction issues, and the overdose death of a sister. Another sister, present in court, stated she had been estranged from him due to his behavior.
Crown attorney Indy Kandola questioned the sincerity of Zona's claims, citing his continued online activity and hostility towards women. Medical records to support his mental health claims were not provided to the court.
Following the courtroom outburst in August 2024, a previous hearing where the judge accepted his apology resulted in no further action. However, Zona was later taken back into custody for breaching his release conditions. He remained incarcerated until his sentencing this week.
Upon his release, Zona is prohibited from contacting the victims, posting threatening content online, and must stay away from Barrie. He also faces a 20-year ban on carrying weapons.