Bail posted by Transition House official

A Sydney Mines woman had good reason to celebrate International Women’s Day after the executive director of Cape Breton Transition House stepped up and bailed her out of jail posting a mere $1.

Earlier this month, Elisha Joanne MacLean, 40, of Butt Street was the subject of a Cape Breton Regional Police warrant for failing to attend court on a charge of fraud over $5,000 involving the provincial Department of Community Services.

The offence is alleged to have occurred between April 2011 and September 2013.

MacLean failed to attend a scheduled court appearance in November 2016 and was subsequently charged with breaching her release conditions by failing to show up.

She was arrested last week on the warrant and on Wednesday, had a bail hearing. Evidence from such a hearing is banned from publication until a verdict in rendered on the charges.

According to court documents, Helen Morrison, executive director of Cape Breton Transition House, is listed as the individual who signed as surety for MacLean and the bail amount was $1.

Among the conditions of her release, MacLean is to live at Transition House or other housing units associated with the agency. She is also to have no contact with any employees from Community Services and is to stay away from their workplace. She is also to report, by phone, once a week to regional police.

As a surety, Morrison is now responsible for MacLean and must ensure she abides by her release conditions.

Like others who sign on, Morrison is responsible to report any breaches and failing to do so could result in the bail amount being forfeited.

Morrison said Thursday her signing on as a surety stemmed from unusual circumstances and declined further explanation in order to protect MacLean’s privacy.

“This is definitely not something we’d be looking at as becoming a common occurrence,” stressed Morrison, adding this was a one-time arrangement.

“I have a fuller understanding of the circumstances in this case and sometimes what is on paper, does reflect the true reality of a situation,” she said.

“At the end of the day, I have to be true to the women I work with,” said Morrison, whose working career has been spent dealing with women in crisis.

Special Crown prosecutor Sheldon Nathanson, who agreed to release MacLean on the conditions, explained that bail amounts need to be meaningful and significant but each case is judged on its individual merit.

“The Crown has great respect for Transition House and its executive director,” said Nathanson, adding he’s 100 per cent confident Morrison will fulfil her obligations to the letter.

MacLean is now scheduled to enter pleas to the charges April 4.