Man with history of harassment gets jail time

Kevin Stewart Adams sentenced to one year in jail, three years of electronic monitoring after harassing woman

A P.E.I. man who sent a string of harassing emails, text messages and phone calls to a woman was sentenced recently to one year in jail.

It was also the second conviction for Kevin Stewart Adams within the last two years for the same offence involving similar behaviour.

In a written decision from the P.E.I. Supreme Court, Chief Justice Tracey Clements referred to Adams’ history of offences involving former intimate partners.

Adams has faced a variety of sentences, including incarceration, yet he was back before the court for criminal harassment, Clements said.

“This pattern of behaviour is very concerning.”

The one-year sentence came after Adams pleaded guilty to criminal harassment.

Emails filed with the court show Adams sent the victim 88 messages totaling 115 pages over a period of 10 days.

Many of the emails included derogatory comments about the victim.

Clements said the nature and frequency of the communications Adams sent to the victim were “disturbing, alarming and completely unacceptable”.

In 2016, Adams was sentenced to six months in jail for similar behaviour involving a different woman after a judge found him guilty of criminal harassment, uttering threats and causing a disturbance.

He was also sentenced in 2003 for assault against a former intimate partner and in 2008 for making repeated harassing phone calls.

With the recent offence, Adams continued his harassing behaviour despite knowing the victim contacted the police.

The Crown and Adams, who represented himself, made a joint sentencing recommendation of one year in jail with three years of probation after his release.

Clements accepted the joint recommendation.

Adams did not agree with the Crown’s recommendation he should have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, but Clements said she was satisfied it was appropriate.

Other conditions of the probation include notifying his probation officer of any relationships he has with a woman.

Adams is also banned from having any contact with the victim or going within 500 metres of two addresses connected to her.

Clements gave Adams credit of 133.5 days for time spent in custody before sentencing.

In the final paragraph of her decision, Clements wrote that she appreciates Adams had a tumultuous and traumatic childhood.

She also said she appreciated that Adams has addiction and mental health issues.

“However, Adams’ conduct and choices are unacceptable, inappropriate by any standard, and criminal.”