Executive Summary
- Former city lawyer Iain Aspenlieder faces sentencing Monday for vandalizing the National Holocaust Monument.
- Aspenlieder pleaded guilty to one count of mischief after the June 9, 2025 incident involving red paint.
- Court documents indicate the vandalism was an act of protest regarding the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
- The defendant was terminated from his position with the City of Ottawa following his arrest.
OTTAWA — A sentencing hearing is expected to proceed Monday for a former city lawyer who pleaded guilty to vandalizing the National Holocaust Monument, according to court schedules and defense statements.
Iain Aspenlieder, who previously served as legal counsel for the City of Ottawa, was arrested on June 27 following an investigation into the defacement of the memorial. Court documents state that surveillance footage from June 9, 2025, captured Aspenlieder arriving at the site on Chaudière Crossing at approximately 3:00 a.m. Investigators reported that he threw cans of red paint at the structure and used a paintbrush to scrawl the words “FEED ME” on the monument. A red handprint found at the scene was later admitted by Aspenlieder to be his own.
Defense lawyer Michael Spratt confirmed that his client has pleaded guilty to one count of mischief regarding the incident. During a bail hearing on June 28, the court heard testimony that Aspenlieder was engaged in a hunger strike to protest political statements related to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Justice of the Peace Stephen Louis Dibblee noted that the vandalism appeared to be a “radical means” of voicing political positions, though the specific message left on the monument lacked immediate context without the defendant’s explanation.
At the time of his arrest, police noted Aspenlieder was wearing clothing stained with red paint, which he reportedly described to officers as “incriminating evidence.” Authorities also seized a backpack containing a Palestinian flag and other paint-stained items. The City of Ottawa has since confirmed that Aspenlieder was fired from his position as legal counsel.
Judicial Proceedings
The upcoming sentencing hearing will address the legal consequences of defacing a national site of remembrance. In cases involving mischief to war monuments or cultural sites, the judiciary often balances statutory penalties with the intent and impact of the destruction. As this matter concludes in court, it highlights the legal boundaries surrounding protest actions that result in property damage. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
