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Local man charged with defrauding company of more than $75,000

After a police investigation spanning about a year, a 29-year-old Estevan man stood before Estevan provincial court on April 14 to answer to charges of fraud.


After a police investigation spanning about a year, a 29-year-old Estevan man stood before Estevan provincial court on April 14 to answer to charges of fraud.

Matthew Wock was charged with two counts of fraud exceeding $5,000 and one count of fraud not exceeding $5,000, as well as three counts of possession of property obtained by crime. He is alleged to have defrauded Redhead Equipment of more than $75,000.

The offences span from March 6, 2010, to March 12, 2011. Wock told the court he needed some time to seek legal counsel. He will be back in court May 9.

In other court business last Thursday, Pat Mahoney received a 90-day prison sentence for driving while disqualified. The 32-year-old Estevan man has had a number of driving-related convictions in the past, including drinking and driving charges in 2008 and 2009.

Judge Jeffrey Kalmakoff said he would allow Mahoney to serve his sentence on weekends, from Friday to Sunday, which the judge is able to order on sentences of 90 days or less. Mahoney was given a nine-month order of probation and a two-year driving prohibition.

During Monday's court proceedings, Aaron Graves was given a 12-month conditional sentence, following drug trafficking charges.

The charges stem from Jan. 14, 2010, when the Estevan Police Service searched Graves' Estevan home and found 464.9 grams of marijuana, a small amount of hash oil, C$865 and US$61 and some other drug paraphernalia. Graves apologized to the court for his actions.

Kalmakoff said, "Despite the serious nature of this offence, it is a case where it would not be inappropriate of me to allow you to serve the sentence of imprisonment in the community."

He said allowing Graves to serve the sentence in the community would not endanger the community. In lieu of community service, the sentence also comes with a voluntary charitable donation of $1,000. Graves is also prohibited from possessing any firearms, ammunition or explosive substances for the next 10 years.

Bernard Sterling, an Estevan man charged with possessing child pornography, made a brief appearance in court on April 14. He became eligible to obtain the services of Legal Aid lawyer Robert Grimsrud, who said he received a "significant" amount of disclosure. Sterling's next appearance is June 6.