J.J. Clarke, the long-time weatherman for CTV Ottawa, is facing multiple charges of criminal harassment.
Clarke is facing seven counts of criminal harassment under his legal name Ron Rowat, according to charges filed in an Ontario court of justice. The charges are connected to allegations of harassment from three complainants.
Clarke was arrested on Jan. 28 and has since been released on bail, according to his lawyer Lawrence Greenspon.
The conditions of his bail include not contacting any of the three complainants in the case and a ban on using the internet.
Clarke, 66, retired from CTV Ottawa in 2020 after 34 years working at the CJOH TV station.
At the time, Clarke cited problems with his health as a reason for ending his on-air career. Greenspon confirmed Wednesday that his client has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver.
The former broadcaster is a well-known face in Ottawa and hosted numerous charitable benefits including telethons for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and other causes in the community.
The City of Ottawa named a park in the west end after Clarke in 2019.
Greenspon says he pursued a publication ban on Clarke’s name to keep the trial out of the public eye, but the application was dismissed by a judge Tuesday.
He is scheduled to next appear in court on June 4.
Comments