Lawyer Warns Don’t Judge By The Numbers In “Worst Alleged Ont. Pedophile” Case

The charges are exaggerated.

That’s the gist of the argument offered by the lawyer for a man police are alleging is the worst serial pedophile in Ontario history.

Michael Stratton was arrested last June and hit with child pornography charges. But Durham Police were convinced there were other victims out there and released his picture and a history of his movements over the past two decades.

That’s when their phones started ringing again, and the result was an astounding total of 282 charges laid against the 39-year-old.

The accused made a brief court appearance Tuesday, and was remanded in custody.

But his lawyer is reminding the public not to judge this case by its numbers.

Alan Risen acknowledges the charges against his client – which include making child porn, sexual assault and forcible confinement – are serious.

But he contends the sheer volume of them is simply misleading, noting a full 247 of the allegations stem from a single alleged victim – and that the full number of children involved is only ten.

“The total number of charges is a bit misleading and overblown,” Risen outlines. “It’s not typical.”

Risen is angry over police comments that they’ve never seen a case involving so many charges, alleging his client may be the worst pedophile they’ve ever come across.

“If it related to 282 complainants that would give it a certain look,” said Risen. “With 10 complainants, it’s a different look. The number of charges involved may be putting an added emphasis on the case that it may or may not merit.”

Police allege that most of the crimes took place in the Whitby resident’s Rosedale Drive home and that they occurred over a series of years, dating all the way back to 1985. Some of those who have come forward are now in their late teens or 20s. 

A publication ban is in place on this case, meaning more details can no longer be released.

The suspect, who’s being held in Lindsay, will be back in court via a video link on November 30th for a bail hearing.

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