An Estevan woman pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding clients of more than $16,000.
Leah Oldhaver was working at the Torquay Credit Union, and between April 2011 and May 2012, repeatedly took small cash amounts out of seven customers' accounts over the course of the year. In that span, she collected $16,850 from the credit union clients.
A representative of the credit union attended the proceedings in Estevan provincial court, as well as some of the victims. Victim impact statements were entered, and the 21-year-old had a chance to read them.
Crown prosecutor Andrew Davis noted that both he and Oldhaver's counsel agreed that a jail sentence was appropriate under the circumstances. He added that they thought the sentence could be served in the community.
Davis presented a joint submission to presiding Judge Kenn Bellerose, suggesting a 15-month conditional sentence order. Conditions are that she complete 100 hours of community service, provide full restitution of $16,850 to the Torquay Credit Union and follow any counselling, treatment or assessments as directed by the probation officer.
Oldhaver removed relatively small amounts from the accounts, said Davis. He said she took note of what the victims would usually withdraw at any one time and would make a similar withdrawal. Oldhaver removed the cash directly from the bank vault.
The transactions were adding up, and after victims found there to be withdrawals they couldn't account for, Oldhaver was confronted. It was then that she admitted to her actions.
Davis said the matter was somewhat unique because in most cases of fraud there is a gambling or drug habit that fuels the accused's actions. That isn't the case with Oldhaver.
She was represented by Joelle Graham, who said Oldhaver is still trying to figure out how she got into the mess she was in.
"She was actually surprised by the total amount of the money," said Graham. "She didn't realize the full extent of the harm and damage."
Bellerose noted the matter was particularly serious because of the breach of trust.
"When I started (on the bench), any breach of trust by an employee to an employer was almost automatic jail," he warned her.
He did, however, accept the 15-month conditional sentence order.
In other court proceedings, a trial for Jerry McCaw began last week in provincial court. It continued on Monday when the Crown completed its case against McCaw, who faces charges of tax evasion.
The Crown noted that the charges stem from income tax returns that were allegedly not filed between 2006 and 2008.
The trial continues this week.
