Ten months after he made "swatting" calls to Florida cops about an active shooter at a school and a hostage situation, William Tuckett is serving time for what a judge called consequential crimes.
"Swatting is far more serious than a prank," Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek said Thursday.
The consequences can range from inconvenient to catastrophic and can result in a life-long traumatic impact on victims, he told the Prince Township resident.
People can be hurt or killed when police are responding to such calls.
He felt "slighted" by a girl he met online and believed was his girlfriend, and sent police to her middle school where there were young children.
The next day "you called again and said her father had taken her hostage," the judge said. "These are serious offences."
Tuckett, 21, was in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom to be sentenced for his actions earlier this year, when he made false 911 calls to the Marion County sheriff's office in Ocala, Florida.
In July, he pleaded guilty to conveying false information with the intention to injure or harm a person stemming from incidents that occurred on Feb. 16 and 17.
In November, the Crown and defence proposed a custodial sentence, but differed in its length and where Tuckett should do his time.
Prosecutor Robert Skeggs called for two years less a day incarceration in a provincial jail.
Bruce Willson urged the judge to impose an 18-month conditional sentence, which his client, a first-time offender, would serve in community.
Tuckett suffers from a cognitive impairment and processes information at a lower rate than his peers and also has mental health issues, the defence said.
He also has attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, which are compounded by autism.
The lawyers agreed Tuckett's sentence should also include 24 months probation.
On Thursday, Kwolek sentenced him to two years less a day under strict house arrest – the maximum amount of home confinement incarceration – followed by two years probation.
"I'm not sending you to actual jail because you're living with your parents," the judge told Tuckett.
"They have control and direction over you, and will provide an appropriate level of supervision," he said, emphasizing a conditional sentence is punishment and jail.
Kwolek then explained the most significant part of his punishment denounces Tuckett's conduct and will keep him off the internet during this sentence.
"You're vulnerable and easily influenced by your peers," he told Tuckett, "and your parents can monitor you better than anyone else in the world."
During his custodial sentence, Tuckett is prohibited from using any device, including a phone, computer and iPad, capable of accessing the internet.
"I know that's a huge punishment for you and that's why I'm letting you serve the sentence in the community."
Warning "if you don't do what I ordered," Kwolek told him, "you will be arrested and taken to jail."
Tuckett can only leave home in the company of his mother or father, for medical emergencies and appointments, and must take any recommended counselling for anger management and psychiatric and psychological issues.
As well, he's permitted to go out for a walk.
During his two-year probation, he can only access the internet in the presence of one of his parents.
"This is important to help keep you out of trouble," Kwolek told him.
"You will be supervised for a total of four years."
Throughout his sentence, he can have no contact with the Marion County sheriff's office and two victims of his swatting calls.
The judge also imposed a 10-year weapons prohibition and ordered him to pay $400 in victim surcharges.