FormerKelowna, British Columbia,social worker counsel asks Robert Triley Sanders for a conditionalsentence. He embezzled at least $ 460,000 from young people, mostly indigenous.
Conditional statements are provided by the community and are essentially a form of house arrest. The defense wants Sanders to be allowed to leave for employment reasons or other possible exceptions.
Saunders has previously pleaded guilty to over $ 5,000 in fraud, breach of trust, and the use of counterfeit documents.
Read more: White-collar crime: How was it in BC Do social workers embezzle $ 460,000 from the government?
Regarding fraud and trust breaches, defense lawyer Brian Fitzpatrick wants a conditional statement two years less a day, followed by three years of probation.
The story continues under the ad
In 1996, the defense forged his degree and took up his ministry position, and the defense was Sanders. Has already argued that it should be credited with the time spent in prison.
Courts heard that when Sanders was first arrested for embezzlement of funds from a young man, he spent about a month in prison, after which he was released on bail.
Read more:Plea guilty of deceiving a teenager who is taking care of former B.C.
"It's harder to imagine a more vulnerable group than the caring children who are subject to permanent orders," said Judge Stephen Wilson. "So perhaps not only their parents can't take care of them, but no one else can."
The crown says Sanders has a joint bank account with young people. It opens and claims that they should spend six to eight years in prison to steal their money.
Trend Story
Read more:'I am myself "I was bullied by my social worker," says a young man who scammed in the sentence. Said to be one such case.
Fitzpatrick says Sanders finds it difficult to continue his work after people learn of his crimes since he moved to Calgary.
The story continues below the ad
"His name is now known nationally for my submissions. His reputation is It will never recover, "Fitzpatrick told the court.
Judge Stephen Wilson replied by asking, "Isn't it just the result of a crime?"
At the gallery, a social worker who was critical of Sanders agreed and nodded.
Read more:"I never harmed young people" B.C. Social work scammers
Fitzpatrick told the court that Sanders is counseling and volunteering at an animal shelter and food bank in Calgary.
The court has heard that Saunders is still in bankruptcy proceedings.
Fitzpatrick says he wants to repay some of the money stolen by a former social worker and will be able to repay his debt if he finishes his sentence while working in the community. increase.
The crown says it's not real, but the defense also claims that Sanders is repentant.
Sanders sat in a prisoner's box in a blue-collar shirt while a lawyer was discussing his white-collar crime.
On Thursday he sometimes seemed to fall asleep, but on Friday he sometimes sobbed and began to tremble.
The story below the ad
The court is now waiting for a report on whether mental health concerns could be a mitigation factor for Sanders' crimes. I am.
The sentencing procedure will continue until July 12.
© 2022 GlobalNews, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.