Brandon Rudiger, 23, has been given a six-month conditional sentence for assaulting a taxi driver in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, on New Year's Day. The Sudbury Star reported the sentence on 22 October 2026. Sudbury Star report
He pleaded guilty to assault and to breach of a probation order made in May 2025. He had a previous record, and he did not speak before sentence. The conditional sentence, and a probation order to follow, were a joint submission. Three months are house arrest and three months are under a curfew. He must have no contact with the driver, no alcohol or drug use, and counselling for substance abuse and anger management. The probation order runs for one year and repeats those conditions.
The fare
On 2 January 2026 the driver called Greater Sudbury Police to report an assault the previous morning. He had picked Rudiger up and asked for 97 Canadian dollars before the journey started. Rudiger had 70 dollars. He slapped the driver in the face and argued about paying in advance. When the driver tried to get out of the taxi, Rudiger tried to stop him. The driver got out. Rudiger approached and struck him in the face with a closed fist. The taxi's camera recorded both attacks. The driver was not named.
The hearing
Ontario Court Justice Faith Finnestad told Rudiger:
"This is really hard for a fellow who is just driving a cab. There's a strong public interest in having cabs available on Jan. 1st."
The judge ventured that the driver would not work New Year's Eve again.
Defence lawyer Jacob Gauthier, on a video link, told the court it was very fortunate there were no physical injuries. Since the attack, Rudiger had completed the province's Back on Track programme, was on the waiting list for anger management, and was "going about the work he needs to do." The two convictions were likely to affect his full-time job, and he was "committed to rehabilitation."
"On New Year's Day, Mr. Rudiger engaged in a serious lapse of judgment. His conduct on the day in question was caused by his consumption of alcohol. That is not an excuse."