A Dysart et al contractor has pleaded guilty to assault in a Lindsay courthouse. Mordecai M. Berlad, 64, of 4152 Trapper
Ct, Mississauga – who was referred to in an agreed statement of facts as ‘Moe’ from ‘Moe’s Renos’ in Haliburton – faced Justice
J.L. Broderick Dec. 17.
She ordered three years’ probation and bail conditions that include no contact with the victim and their spouse; a weapons prohibition; and not doing business under a last name other than his legal last name.
Initially, Berlad was facing a sexual assault charge. Mid-trial, that was changed to assault. A plea bargain was struck and a
guilty plea made.
In an agreed statement of facts, the Crown and defence said the victim and her spouse met Berlad at the Haliburton Home and
Cottage Show, saying he identified himself as Moe of Moe’s Renos. After a discussion, he agreed to renovate their Dysart et al
home.
The statement said the spouse said Moe did not provide a last name. The statement went on to say Berlad was bound by a probation order, for two years, for a sexual assault conviction (in Hamilton) on Nov. 15, 2022.
The statement said Berlad began renovations with a crew at the victim’s home in July 2024 – until he was fired in the middle of August 2024.
The statement said “Mr. Berlad made unwanted physical contact with (the victim), specifically he massaged her shoulders. She
did not consent to the massage.”
The victim testified during the trial, on the initial sexual assault charge, that he “groped” her on several occasions. Berlad was given an opportunity, but did not address the court. An outstanding fail to comply with probation charge was stayed.
Crown attorney Ghazi Jarrar, referencing the victim impact statement, said, “we do see that (the victim) was impacted by what
took place. It affected her sense of safety in her home. It had some impact on her relationship. Ultimately what took place
here did take place inside her home, which must have felt particularly violating for her, so she is entitled to the protection of the
court.”
Berlad’s defence counsel, Coulson Mills, said Berlad had been in business for 40 years, originally in Toronto and southern
Ontario, but in Haliburton the last four years, where he made “a move to try and start a new life after the Hamilton
experience.”
In that matter, The Hamilton Spectator reported that Berlad was originally charged with four counts of sexual assault but pleaded guilty to one count of sexually assaulting a realtor he lured to his home. In late 2022, he was sentenced to six months of house arrest.
On Dec. 17 in Lindsay, Justice Broderick said the joint submission took into account the seriousness of the offence and the degree of responsibility of the offender.
“The assault itself did not involve the use of excessive violence or weapons. At the same time, however, I find that his moral culpability is high in the sense that the touching was certainly intentional.”
She said there were aggravating factors: that the offence took place in the victim’s home, and in a trailer used temporarily as
a residence “a place where she was entitled to feel safe and secure from non-consensual touching.” She added Berlad’s criminal
record was aggravating … “in that he has a conviction which is relatively recent for an offence involving non-consensual contact.”
However, Justice Broderick said Berlad contributes to the community through his work as a full-time contractor. She also acknowledged that by pleading guilty, he spared the victim having to be cross examined.
She said registering a conviction sends a message not only to Berlad, but to others in the community “that there is a significant
consequence for unwanted touching.”
The Highlander cannot name the victim, or report anything that might identify them.
