Tony Rosato has been found guilty of criminally harassing his wife Leah.

Justice Gordon Thomson made the ruling Wednesday at the Ontario Superior Court in Kingston, Ont., a day after a prosecutor lowered the charge against the former SCTV and Saturday Night Live comedian from indictable to summary, making him subject to a much lower penalty if found guilty. On Tuesday, Rosato formally pleaded not guilty.

Thomson said he had carefully studied the testimony given by Leah Rosato, who said she lived in fear of the man she married in December 2003.

She said her husband accused her of being a lesbian and wouldn't let her wear her own clothes because he thought they made her look slutty.

Thomson said he believed Tony Rosato was well aware of the harm and fear he caused to his wife, even though he denied his wife's accusations while on the witness stand Tuesday, calling them slanderous, libellous and dishonest.

Rosato looked incredulous as Thomson read out his ruling, CBC Radio's JC Kenny reported from outside the court shortly after the judge released his verdict.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, there had been no discussion of Rosato's mental health condition or whether he will be required to seek treatment as part of his sentence, which had yet to be decided.

Rosato's lawyer Daniel Brodsky has said any conviction should be set aside because his client is mentally ill.

Rosato has been diagnosed with Capgras syndrome, a psychiatric disorder characterized by the belief that a close relative or friend has been replaced by another person who looks identical.

Rosato has been in jail since he was arrested and charged in May 2005, after he complained to police that his wife and their daughter were missing and had been replaced by imposters.