Airdrie resident Shaun Sandbach pleaded guilty to a charge related to arson during a court appearance in Calgary on March 7.
According to an Alberta Court of Queens Bench representative and an agreed statement of facts, Sandbach pleaded guilty to “intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire or explosion” to his residence at 291 Silver Springs Way in Airdrie.
A previous Airdrie City View report states Sandbach was charged with two counts of arson for a fraudulent purpose by intentionally setting fire to his Silver Creek home twice – once on April 13, 2016, and once on New Year's Eve that same year – in order to collect insurance payouts.
The investigation also resulted in further charges, including two counts of possession of incendiary material and three counts of fraud over $5,000.
Sandbach was also charged with three counts of false pretences “due (to) his alleged purchasing of the material to burn his own property and attempting to have insurance cover the cost of the fire,” according to an RCMP release from May 2017.
An incident from 2015 where Sandbach contacted Airdrie RCMP to report his vehicle had been allegedly stolen after he was held at gunpoint also resulted in a charge of public mischief.
“His claim was investigated thoroughly by Airdrie RCMP and was determined to be false,” according to RCMP.
The statement of agreed facts for Sandbach's March 7 hearing indicate he initiated an insurance claim with his insurer to repair his home after the first blaze.
“Throughout 2016, at the direction of his insurer, contractors attended to Sandbach's residence for the purpose of repairing and rebuilding it after the fire,” it read.
The agreed facts go on to stay there were “significant financial costs related to the fire, including the costs to the insurer, Intact Insurance, for repairs and rebuilding of the residence, as well as replacement or reimbursement for the loss of personal property,” and costs related to providing interim accommodations for Sandbach and his family.
Investigators determined the source of the first fire was a cardboard box placed under the staircase that contained burnt rags. The second blaze at Sandbach's home, meanwhile, was caused by the burning of rags soaked with linseed oil in a cardboard box, which also contained cedar shims.
CCTV evidence captured Sandbach purchasing linseed oil at Airdrie's Home Depot. Investigators also found a Home Depot pail with an empty one-litre bottle of linseed oil and a four-litre container of Zylene at his home.
Sandbach accepted responsibility for both fires, according to the statement of facts.
“Initial reports from Sandbach indicated that he was a victim of arson, however following an investigation between the Airdrie Fire investigator and the RCMP, it was determined that the fire was deliberately set,” it reads.
Sandbach’s next court date is on May 24 at 1 p.m., according to the Court of Queen's Bench representative, when sentencing will be determined.
