Locke Street accused Hopperton still in jail

A group of supporters were at the Hamilton courthouse to see whether the sole person charged in last month’s vandalism spree on Locke Street South would be let out on bail.

But a lengthy docket at John Sopinka Courthouse pushed Cedar Hopperton’s bail hearing over until Tuesday.

“I appreciate everybody’s good graces today,” justice of the peace Mitchell Baker told Hopperton’s backers in a packed second-floor courtroom around 2:30 p.m. Monday.

The crowd of 30 or so had been at the courthouse since 9 a.m.

The supporters were there to see Hopperton make a brief appearance on the first floor.

However, the case was transferred upstairs after the lunch break.

Hopperton, whose legal first name is Peter, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence in relation with the March rampage on Locke Street South.

On March 3, a group of masked black-clad marchers threw rocks, damaged cars and smashed storefront windows while carrying a banner emblazoned with “We are the ungovernable.”

The anti-gentrification vandalism spree has drawn condemnation from several politicians and sparked efforts to support affected businesses on Locke.

Hopperton, 31, has been in jail since Friday, when he was arrested at a residence near Cannon and Hess streets.

Lawyer Angela Ruffo expressed concern her client would have to wait another day for a bail hearing, having been in jail since Friday.

Baker said he’d canvassed Ontario and Superior Court of Justice courtrooms at John Sopinka but noted time was tight with the lengthy dockets.

Hopperton’s hearing is scheduled to take place Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 608.

Ruffo declined to comment about her client outside court. Hopperton’s supporters also said they wouldn’t speak about their friend.

In 2012, Hopperton pleaded guilty to counselling mischief in connection with the 2010 G20 protests in Toronto. He was sentenced to nine months in prison.