‘Vermin and mould': Judge calls for investigation into Lindsay jail during drugs, gun sentencing

Hamilton Spectator

12-05-2025

A judge has called for an investigation into the Lindsay jail after hearing about what he called the 'horrific' conditions there during the sentencing of a cocaine dealer.
It was following disclosures by Kevin Nguyen's attorney involving the 'vermin and mould' at Central East compared to the much better stay at Toronto East, that Justice Robert Goldstein said that while he understands jail is not meant to be a cakewalk, that didn't excuse the conditions at the Central East Correctional Centre.
'It is not preordained that a jail has to (be) something familiar to Ivan Denisovich — and I am aware from many other cases that Toronto East is still unpleasant, as any jail would be,' he said referring to the 1950 novel about a Soviet labour camp prisoner. 'The place is ripe for a Ministry investigation into the conditions there.'
Some of the issues raised in court involve Nguyen spending 543 days in the jail, during which he was triple bunked on 112 occasions and on lockdown on 296 occasions, meaning inmates are in their cells most of the day.
During this time, he was forced to sleep on the floor with his head near the toilet, often without blankets, and spent as many as 10 days without a shower.
Overcrowding, he said, resulted in competition for space, phone calls and even seats.
Nguyen's lawyer called the jail highly unsanitary, saying his client's cell was infested with vermin and had mould growing on the showers, cells and toilets.
He also said there was often urine and feces stains on the walls.
The court further heard how inmates have access to drugs and alcohol with frequent overdoses, sometimes resulting in death.
'Mr. Nguyen generally found the atmosphere at Central East to be hostile and stressful,' Goldstein told the court. 'He found the guards were frequently rude and disrespectful to the inmates and the difficult conditions often led to fights.'
As opposed to this, he said his time at Toronto East Detention Centre was much more positive, where he participated in workshops and programs.
It remains unclear what, if anything, will be done about Goldstein's statement. The Ministry of the Solicitor General told Metroland it would not comment on the matter.
'The ministry does not comment on any specific individual or case before the courts,' Brian Gray, a ministry spokesperson, wrote in an email.
Nguyen, 28, was found guilty of gun and drug offences after a 2023 bust of his home on Toronto's Spadina Avenue, where Durham police discovered a one-kilogram brick of cocaine, a loaded gun, two extended Glock magazines, a money counter, cellphones and more.
Police became aware of his existence after he met with another man they were investigating, Dane Goodwin, the court heard.
This is the fifth firearm offence faced by Nguyen.
'It seems to me that Mr. Nguyen has been leading the lifestyle of a professional criminal,' Goldstein said.
Prior to sentencing Nguyen, Goldstein also paid tribute to the jail employees and the difficult jobs they have running an institution like Central East.
'This court cannot condemn too strongly the conditions at Central East,' he told the court. 'I understand that staff shortages are a chronic problem at the Ministry. I understand that it may be difficult to attract staff to do an incredibly difficult and often thankless job.'
Goldstein, who said the sentence, 'before taking totality and the harsh conditions of custody' into account should have been between 10 and 12 years, but, instead, Nguyen was sentenced to eight and a half years.
He will serve five years and three months after enhanced rate custody credit for the 40 months he's already spent in custody.
Watch: Disturbing video shows jail guards carrying out violent, hours-long retribution at Maplehurst
Brantford man charged in several murders dies in jail
An inquest into my brother's death made 57 recommendations. Doug Ford still has not addressed them a year later