Kaitlyn Braun sentencing delayed as judge and lawyers discuss jail time for woman who faked pregnancies

A Hamilton judge has decided to delay the sentencing of Kaitlyn Braun, who has been found guilty of faking pregnancies and fraudulently receiving doula care while on house arrest for similar crimes. The sentencing was originally scheduled for Friday, but Justice Joe Fiorucci raised some concerns about the proposed five-year sentence put forth by both the Crown and defence lawyers.

Braun, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining services under false pretences and two harassment-related charges back in January. This is not the first time Braun has been in trouble with the law, as she previously pleaded guilty to 21 charges including fraud, false pretences, and indecent acts for pretending to have experienced pregnancies and stillbirths between June 2022 and February 2023. Despite being sentenced to two years of house arrest, Braun went on to commit similar crimes again.

The joint submission made on Friday suggests that Braun should serve the remaining time of her house arrest in custody, followed by an additional three years behind bars. The discussion in court focused on what factors should be considered in the sentencing, with particular emphasis on Braun’s mental health and the support she could receive while incarcerated.

Both the Crown attorney and Braun’s lawyer acknowledged the need for mental health care for Braun, with the hope that she would have access to counselling services while in custody. Justice Fiorucci expressed concerns about the effectiveness of such support and emphasized the importance of addressing Braun’s mental health issues to prevent future reoffending.

Braun, who appeared in court during the proceedings, did not speak when given the opportunity to address the court. Fiorucci set June 9 as the date for Braun’s sentencing and noted that he had received victim impact statements, although they were not read in court that day.

The Crown attorney highlighted Braun’s lack of insight into her behavior and motivations, suggesting that there may be a sexual dimension to her crimes. Braun’s previous victims, including a doula who was deceived by her, expressed their fear and mistrust following their interactions with her. The impact of Braun’s actions on these individuals was profound, causing emotional distress and a loss of trust in their professional roles.

The case of Kaitlyn Braun has garnered attention not only in the courtroom but also in the media, with a podcast titled “The Con: Kaitlyn’s Baby” shedding light on her deceptive practices. As Braun awaits her sentencing, the focus remains on addressing her mental health needs and preventing further harm to the community.