Former Stratford restauranteur sentenced for assault, also facing new fraud charges

Kevin Larson in a 2020 interview with CTV Kitchener.

An embattled former business and restaurant owner in Stratford has been given a conditional discharge after being found guilty of assaulting his former partner and breaching a no-contact order.

The incident occurred in the summer of 2019.

During the trial, court heard that Kevin Larson punched the wall beside the head of his partner who was pregnant at the time with twins. The woman said she then retreated to the living room of their apartment where Larson kicked the couch where she was sitting.

The court also heard that Larson was yelling loudly at the time of the incident, while the couple’s other child was at home.

The judge said the court takes matter of intimate partner violence (IPV) very seriously and called Larson’s actions a deliberate act of force directed at his partner. Larson, she explained, “did not aimlessly punch a wall or kick furniture, it was done to intentionally threaten and amplify force.”

In determining a verdict, the judge cited several mitigating factors, including Larson’s lack of a criminal record and the fact that he did not actually physically hit anyone. She also pointed out that it had been roughly four years between the incident and when the assault was reported to police.

The judge also noted a criminal conviction could hurt Larson’s ability to gain employment and take care of his three children.

She determined an 18-month probationary period would be enough to denounce and deter his actions.

Larson was also given a weapons ban and an order to not contact his former partner, with a few exceptions for matters involving family court.

Fraud cases

The assault case is just one of legal battles Larson is fighting.

The former owner of The Hub, as well as other restaurants, businesses and properties in the city, is facing dozens of fraud-related charges.

According to Perth County’s Crown attorney’s office, Larson will be back in court on March 4, specifically to address four counts of forging documents and one count of fraud under $5,000.

He also has two additional charges for breaching an undertaking.

Larson will then return to court on April 7, this time on 31 counts of fraud that were filed earlier this year.

New charges

Larson is also facing new charges out of Norfolk County.

According to court documents, he is accused of defrauding a metal roofing company out of $18,730.

Larson is facing two additional counts of fraud over $5,000.

He will appear in court for those charges on May 20.