When a business deal between Wayne Kenith Ransom and his customer turned sour, the customer began harassing Ransom online by criticizing the products he was selling through social media.
Frustrated with the badgering, Ransom made threatening comments of his own toward the former customer. It was these threats that landed the Moose Jaw native in trouble with the law and an appearance before a judge.
During a recent appearance in Moose Jaw provincial court, Ransom, 45, pleaded guilty to uttering threats and possessing property obtained by crime. For each offence, he received a conditional sentence order (CSO) — similar to house arrest — of six months that will be served at the same time.
As part of his conditions he will have to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, report to a probation supervisor, obey a daily curfew of 12:30 a.m. to 6 a.m., not consume or possess alcohol or drugs or visit any place that sells such products, have no contact with the people involved in his offences, or be anywhere near the two persons.
The Crown stayed three other charges against Ransom.
Moose Jaw police responded to a situation on July 9, 2019 around 6:54 p.m., where a dispute was occurring between Ransom and another man, explained Crown prosecutor Stephen Yusuff. Ransom was said to be extremely agitated and said he would “slaughter” the man due to the negative posts the latter made on Facebook about merchandise for sale.
“Mr. Ransom stated that he was not threatening to kill (the man), but was promising to do so,” said Yusuff.
Ransom told Judge Brian Hendrickson that he agreed with the facts. However, he said he did not use the word kill when he threatened the man, but actually said “destroy.” The former customer kept coming around and creating grief with regular arguments, so Ransom said one day he got out of his truck and argued back at the man. He also phoned the police since he wasn’t interested in fighting the man.
“I was mad and said some stuff I shouldn’t have, but it was all out of frustration and anger,” he added.
When asked about the relationship between himself and the former customer, Ransom explained he met the man through a friend and had sold him an item based on payments. However, when the man did not pay, Ransom called out the man for his delinquent payments, which the customer denied.
The situation escalated from there, continued Ransom. He sells items on Facebook, so the former customer began making negative and untrue comments about the products being sold, while also encouraging other people to harass Ransom with negative comments about the merchandise.
Besides the charge of uttering threats, Ransom also pleaded guilty to possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. Yusuff explained that on May 20, 2019, three officers were dispatched to the Village of Caron about a call over thefts from Eman Transport and Trucking.
When officers arrived, they found Ransom and another man in possession of stolen batteries, two jerry cans and tie-down straps.
Yusuff suggested that an appropriate sentence would be a six-month conditional sentence order (CSO) to be served in the community. He noted that is a lenient outcome considering Ransom has lengthy criminal record related to property thefts.
“He could go to jail if he does not take this seriously,” said Yusuff.
Judge Hendrickson agreed with the sentence, saying it was appropriate for this situation.
