Crown could be considering conditional sentence for convicted ex-hockey referee

Glenn Charbonneau forged signatures on 9 referees’ paycheques and deposited them into his own bank account in spring 2015

A possible change of heart on the part of the Crown has further delayed the sentencing of a former Penticton Minor Hockey Association referee-in-chief who’s pleaded guilty to fraud.

Glenn Charbonneau was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in provincial court, where the Crown intended to seek jail time, but will now wait at least two more months to learn his fate.

“Mr. Charbonneau doesn’t have any prior record, and while this (offence) is a breach of a position of trust and the default (sentencing) position is jail, I think this is a situation where the Crown would be remiss if a conditional sentence order wasn’t considered,” said Crown counsel Nashina Devji.

Conditional sentences allow people to serve their jail terms in the community, typically under house arrest.

Defence counsel Norm Yates didn’t argue the matter.

“I don’t know that a pre-sentence report is going to assist the court in any way… although a conditional sentence order is a very viable option for the court in the circumstances,” said Yates.

Charbonneau’s lawyer is now due back in court May 31 to set a new date for sentencing.

Pre-sentencing reports are prepared by probation officers, who delve into offenders’ backgrounds to provide information for judges to take into consideration.

Charbonneau forged signatures on nine referees’ paycheques totalling several thousand dollars, and deposited them into his own bank account in spring 2015.

He was dismissed from his position with PMHA in October 2015 and hasn’t been involved with the organization since.