Former paramedics chief gets house arrest in fraud case
LINDSAY — Former City of Kawartha Lakes acting chief of paramedics Derek Brown has been sentenced to house arrest for defrauding the municipality of more than $16,000.
Brown, who faced eight counts of fraud under $5,000, eight counts of uttering a forged document and one count of breach of trust, pleaded guilty to one count each of breach of trust by a public official, fraud under $5,000 and uttering forged documents in October.
On Thursday, Justice Jennifer Broderick sentenced Brown to a 12-month conditional sentence. Brown, 50, will be monitored by an electronic device, and placed on six months probation following his house arrest. The sentence also requires him to complete 200 hours of community service.
According to the facts, Brown used a corporate credit card for a lengthy period of time when he was the deputy chief between 2009 and 2018.
“Mr. Brown abused a position of trust,” Broderick said.
In her sentencing, Broderick said Brown used the credit card to purchase more than $16,000 worth of personal items, including tires, furniture, wireless speakers and a smartphone. Broderick said Brown also altered the receipts to hide the purchases from his employer.
An audit of the financial irregularities led to Brown’s dismissal in April 2019 when he was the acting chief of paramedics. Lindsay police charged Brown six months later, and he pleaded guilty to three of the charges last month.
The Crown was seeking a sixmonth jail sentence, while Brown’s lawyer Richard Aitken proposed a conditional sentence.
Broderick sided with the defence, stating a custodial sentence would be unfit, considering Brown is not likely to reoffend nor is he a danger to society.
Broderick noted Brown has experienced “significant shame” and has shown remorse with a guilty plea.
Brown paid over $16,000 in restitution, $11,000 toward the cost of the municipality’s audit and completed more than 270 hours of community service.
In his apology letter, Broderick said Brown offered insight on why he committed the fraud, admitting the crime was petty and irrational, but in response to an alleged toxic work environment.