OTTAWA — An Ottawa court has sentenced Freedom Convoy organizer Pat King to three months of house arrest.

King must also complete 100 hours of community service at a food bank or men's shelter and will be on probation for a year.

He previously spent nine months in custody. After the sentence was announced, King took a smoke break, where he was greeted with applause and hugs from friends and supporters.

King declined to comment due to bail conditions. His lawyer, Natasha Calviño, called the sentence "balanced," noting that prosecutors' request for 10 years would have made him a "political prisoner."

King was found guilty of five of nine charges, including violating a restraining order, for his role in the 2022 protests that paralyzed downtown Ottawa for three weeks.

Judge Charles Hackland ordered King to remain at home except for court hearings, community service, and three hours on Mondays to shop for essential supplies. He is banned from Ottawa except for court hearings and from contacting other protest leaders.

Prosecutor Moise Karimjee had sought the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, calling the case the “most serious” example of disorderly conduct. However, the judge found no aggravating circumstances and noted that King had encouraged supporters to protest peacefully.

During his sentencing hearing, King apologized to the people of Ottawa for the impact of the protests. He plans to serve his sentence in Alberta.