Ontario man who posted hospital selfie with woman's dying father sentenced to 60 days in jail

A London, Ont., man., who posted a selfie online showing him with a dying man in a Windsor hospital last year has received two months of jail time.

Bubba Pollock, 35, is an activist who's protested against drag queens and drag storytimes. He was sentenced in a Windsor courtroom on Friday for his actions against Britt Leroux and the Windsor woman's terminally ill father.

"I'm happy that he's gonna be held responsible," Leroux said outside court. "I'm fearful that he's not going to learn anything in jail. I think he needs more intense rehabilitation."

Pollock pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of criminal harassment that stems from his actions in June 2023.

Ontario Justice Mark Hornblower described Pollock's behaviour as "an exercise of power over someone else, intended to send a message of intimidation."

Hornblower ruled an incarceration period of 60 days is necessary to "denounce conduct of this nature."

Pollock was also handed three years of probation, which includes a 12-month ban from social media use.

Dressed in a blue suit, Pollock showed no emotion and seemed unaffected during Hornblower's reading of the sentence. While Hornblower was still speaking, Pollock conferred with his legal counsel and drank from a water bottle.

Pollock had been arguing online with Leroux, a Pride supporter and 2SLGBTQ+ activist.

The court heard Pollock learned the location of Leroux's elderly, cancer-stricken father, Andre Leroux, who was undergoing palliative care at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

Pollock then drove from London to Windsor, entered the hospital and gained access to Andre's room, where he took a photo of himself smiling while the patient was unconscious in the background.

The selfie pic was posted in a Facebook comment thread visible to Britt — to her shock and dismay.

During previous court proceedings, assistant Crown attorney Jennifer Holmes described Pollock's behaviour in the incident as "illegal, immoral," and "rotten." She was seeking six months of jail time.

Pollock's lawyer, Ron Ellis, argued his client has issues with "impulsivity" and was only trying to "win an argument." He asked for a suspended sentence (community service without jail time) or a conditional sentence (house arrest).

But on Friday, Hornblower said a suspended sentence or a conditional sentence are insufficient in this case.

The judge said Pollock's actions "reflect planning and deliberation — not impulsivity."

Although Hornblower acknowledged Pollock has a medical history of concussions and mental health problems, he said Pollock has tried to "minimize his blame, as well as the seriousness of the offence."

Hornblower noted that Pollock has four prior criminal convictions. The judge pointed to a separate case against Pollock in 2019, when Pollock was convicted of posting an intimate image without consent.

Drawing a comparison, Hornblower said Pollock had once again used social media "for nefarious purposes."

The judge said Leroux suffered a "life-altering" sense of fear from the incident — fear for herself, her father and her family.

Part of Pollock's probation order is that he must avoid all contact with Britt and her family, and keep at least 100 metres distance from her at all times.

Pollock must also submit a DNA sample for police records.

As well, he must pay almost $1,900 in restitution to Leroux: $1,300 to reimburse her for the security system she installed at her residence due to the incident, and around $600 for the new cellphone she obtained under the advice of Windsor police.

Leroux attended Friday's sentencing with her partner, John Reh, and several supporters. She became emotional and burst into tears when Pollock was led away to begin his 60-day jail sentence.

The 38-year-old mother of two said the fear she felt from the incident prevented her from sharing an obituary or holding a celebration of life for her father — who passed away in July 2023 — but she plans to do those things now.

Leroux wore a shirt belonging to her father and carried his ashes with her. 

"I wanted him [Pollock] to know, well, that man that you took that picture with, this is all he is now," she said outside court. "He's reduced to ash, and this is what we all will be one day, and you have to be a better person and hopefully he learns that."

The sentencing was also attended by about a dozen supporters of Pollock, who continued to jeer at and mock Leroux outside the courthouse. The group left when Windsor police officers approached them.

Megan Ball Rigden, a friend to Britt, questioned whether Pollock is remorseful and said she feels he is only "truly remorseful he got caught."

"I hope, with some time in therapy, that he will be truly remorseful.

"I was pleased that we did see jail time. I think the social media ban is something that is meaningful — although I think the entire community would have liked to see more time in all respects."