Windsor man sentenced to jail for 'random, violent' attacks on two Black homeless men

Justice Scott Pratt has sentenced the ringleader behind what he described as "random, violent" attacks on two Black homeless men to 12 months in jail.

Jacob Yoell previously pleaded guilty to robbery and aggravated assault for two separate incidents in August 2022. He was 18 at the time.

Both assaults were filmed and posted to Snapchat, which is how police became aware.

Pratt described those short videos in court Monday during sentencing as "quite simply awful."

Both victims were Black men, homeless and mainly laying on the ground when Yoell repeatedly stomped on their heads and faces. During the assaults, Pratt said Yoell can be heard using the N-word several times.

Race played a role in beatings

Race wasn't the sole factor of the attack, but it "played at least a part in these offences," said Pratt.

Some other youth, who cannot be identified because they were minors at the time, were also a part of the assaults. At one point, the judge describes the attack as a four-on-one beating.

The first video was 56 seconds and showed the homeless victim trying to walk away before the attack began.

During the second video, someone could be heard saying that one of the victims has had enough, yet Yoell continued the assault while he was on the ground.

The "attackers were vicious and unrelenting," Pratt said. "Gang violence is exactly what this was."

"The victims only crime was being at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Pratt.

Attacks happened while trying to impress 'cool' people

When Pratt previously asked Yoell why he did this, the young man said he was trying to impress the "cool" people he was with. Alcohol also played a factor, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Jessica Grbevski was pushing for a conditional sentence, which would mean no jail time.

The judge did acknowledge that Yoell is trying to focus on his future, finish high school and doesn't associate with the people who helped him assault those men that night.

Pratt said it's unlikely Yoell will engage in this sort of behaviour again and is not a danger to the public right now. Still, Pratt said he couldn't justify a sentence without any jail time.

"A jail sentence is required in this case," said Pratt, justifying his 12-month jail sentence. "This sentence reflects what you did."

During a previous court appearance, Yoell said the incidents were a "dumb mistake" he wishes he could take back.

On Monday, Pratt said describing it as a "dumb mistake" doesn't even come close to the seriousness of what happened.

Court paused and the judge left the courtroom so Yoell could say goodbye to several family members.

Yoell's lawyer said he will likely be out of jail in eight months, which will be followed by two years of probation.