A former Chatham-Kent police officer has received a conditional discharge and six months probation for harassing a woman.
On Wednesday in Chatham court, Andrew Jaconelli, 50, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of harassing somebody by repeated communication, but pleaded not guilty to criminal harassment.
A conditional discharge means the conviction won't show up on his record, if the probation conditions are met.
Jaconelli has also been ordered by the court not to communicate with the woman in any way, unless it's with her consent. He's also banned from owning or possessing any weapons for six months.
In an agreed statement of facts, the court heard Jaconelli repeatedly contacted the victim between October 1, 2021 and November 10, 2021 "berating" her and "terrifying" her, causing her to fear for her own safety and that of her children. The victim eventually had to shut off her phone and Jaconelli, a London native, was arrested by London police on November 11, 2021 at his mother's home where he was staying.
Jaconelli resigned from Chatham-Kent police a few months ago after being charged with discreditable conduct for many incidents throughout his career as a police officer. The court was told he also suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has struggled with alcoholism. Jaconelli attempted to take his own life in 2021 and checked into a psychiatric ward in London on October 4, 2021 where he stayed for approximately 10 days.
Jaconelli received another conditional discharge in late 2020 for sexual assault.
Jaconelli broke down in court and apologized to the victim for all the pain and suffering he caused her.
The judge credited Jaconelli for all the work he's done to rehabilitate himself and told him he's getting a break. Jaconelli attended a rehabilitation facility for his alcoholism. Justice Pratt also told Jaconelli he was glad he failed in his suicide attempt because there are people who need him. Both the judge and the prosecutor wished him luck in the future.
