Michael Steven Greene reacted to the breakup of a relationship with a former girlfriend in a manner which Judge Wayne Gorman said is common in too many men.
“He threatened her,” said Gorman as he read of a portion of his written decision sentencing the 25-year-old Corner Brook man to eight months in jail in provincial court in Corner Brook on Wednesday afternoon.
Greene, who appeared for his sentencing via videoconference, was convicted during an earlier appearance of two counts of uttering a threat to kill a woman, unlawfully publishing, distributing or selling an intimate image of a person without consent, breach of an undertaking and resisting a peace officer.
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A publication ban is in place to protect the woman’s identity and she is referred to as X in the judge’s decision.
But Gorman said Greene when much further than just threatening her and released a pornographic video of her without her consent.
The judge said that action is commonly referred to as “revenge porn.”
“It provides men who are unable to accept the end of a relationship with a new and frightening manner of harming and humiliating their former female partners.”
Gorman said the transmission of the video was the most serious of Greene’s offences. He said the fact he never put the video on the Internet lessens the seriousness of the offence in comparison to the circumstances of other cases.
However, the judge said when Greene sent the video to X’s friend he no longer had any control over where the video went.
“This increases his level of moral responsibility.”
He said Greene’s actions were designed to intimidate and humiliate a former partner and constitute a gross breach of her privacy interests.
Gorman said he felt the eight-month jail term was appropriate in Greene’s case. His sentence will be reduced by 108 days to reflect the time he has spent in custody since his arrest in January on the resisting a peace officer charge.
In addition, Greene must provide a sample of his DNA to authorities and will be subject to a weapon/ammunition prohibition for 10 years.
At the completion of his jail sentence he’ll be bound by a probation order for a period of three years. As part of the probation order he is to have no contact with X and must refrain from posting on any Internet site or social media platform any comments in relation to her. He must also immediately surrender to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Corner Brook any intimate photographs or videos of X that he has in his possession or access to.
And he has to pay a victim fine surcharge in the amount of $100 for each of the offences.
