Frank Stronach won't have to go to jail, judge says, after dramatic day of argument

Frank Stronach leaves a Toronto courthouse after sentencing arguments of a conviction on one single count of indecent assault, Thursday September 17, 2026. Photo by Peter J. Thompson/National PostArticle contentTORONTO — Frank Stronach will not go to jail for the crime of indecent assault, a judge said in surprise final comments at his sentencing hearing.

Judge Anne Molloy of the Ontario Superior Court said Stronach should return to hear his sentence in December. It will not be custodial but still could involve conditions on his freedom.

The news followed a dramatic day of argument Thursday in which the Crown argued the 94-year-old autoparts billionaire should go to jail for six months, surrender a sample of his DNA, and be listed on Canada’s sex offender registry for 10 years.

“Only a real deprivation of liberty will do,” said prosecutor Jelena Vlacic.

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Stronach’s defence lawyer argued that he should be granted an absolute discharge, which means no conviction would be entered on the charge of indecent assault for which he was found guilty in June, and there would be no conditions on his release.

Stronach was originally charged with 12 offences involving seven women, but all other charges failed for various reasons.

The victim, now in her 70s, gave a short statement from the witness stand on Thursday, the only evidence called in the day-long hearing that was dominated by technical argument over precedent cases and the purposes of sentencing.

“I am 20 years younger than the defendant. I felt ambushed, I felt overpowered, I felt my physical privacy was violated without my consent. My body and my sense of security were instantly injured. My self reliance was wounded when by confidence in the defendants character was shattered.”

In her testimony earlier this year, the woman (whose identity is protected) testified that she knew Stronach socially and was with him at the Toronto bar he owned, Rooney’s. She accepted his invitation to a nearby apartment, where Stronach abruptly pushed her face down over the arm of a chair and pressed himself against her from behind while lifting her skirt. There was no direct contact with her skin and both remained clothed. She described it as “bizarre” and “pathetic.”

“I felt I deserved an apology, I was upset when none was forthcoming,” she said in her victim impact statement.