A Saskatchewan man is appealing his conviction related to keeping his daughter away from her mother to prevent the child from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Michael Gordon Jackson received a one-year jail sentence after being convicted of violating a court order by not returning his seven-year-old daughter following a visitation in November of 2021. Jackson kept the girl for nearly three months. Prior to this, the child primarily lived with her mother in accordance with the custody agreement.
Jackson filed his appeal on Dec. 6, 2024, arguing that the decision was a miscarriage of justice because the verdict was unreasonable and not supported by evidence.
He had been found guilty in April 2024 and Court of King’s Bench Justice Heather MacMillan-Brown handed down a 12-month sentence in December.
The jail sentence was to be followed by two years probation. However, Jackson was given credit for the 531 days he had already spent in jail. It was not expected that Jackson would serve any more jail time.
The probation terms require Jackson to have no contact with his daughter or ex-wife and to serve 100 hours of community service.
Jackson, who represented himself in the case, argued he should not be sentenced for his actions. The appeal documents indicate Jackson will employ legal counsel this time, according to media reports.
The notice of appeal serves as a preliminary document and does not detail the arguments that Jackson may present to support his claims in court.
Court records show Jackson kept his daughter because he was concerned the child’s mother would allow her to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Jackson was worried the girl could be harmed by the vaccine.
He had tried to speak to his ex-wife about his concerns, but felt she was not listening to him, according to court documents.
In a previous custody dispute over the child, the mother obtained an enforcement clause that allowed police to retrieve the girl if Jackson did not return her following visitations.
That court order was still in place when Jackson kept the child. The mother sought another court order on Nov. 26, 2021, directing that the girl be returned to her mother.
Jackson appealed that decision, but on Jan. 5, 2022, the mother was granted sole custody and decision-making authority on an interim basis.
The child and Jackson were found by police in Vernon, B.C., in February of 2022.
Jackson was sentenced to 60 days in jail for contempt of court and remained in custody until Feb. 13, 2023.
