What was once briefly thought of as a non-profit's potentially careless bookkeeping has culminated with a man charged with fraud, theft and using a forged document.
A former Olds Search and Rescue Society (OSAR) member appeared in Didsbury provincial court on Jan. 23 facing five Criminal Code charges.
Christopher Weatherald has been charged with two counts of theft, two counts of fraud and use of a forged document. The allegations have not been proven in court.
A court hearing regarding the matter was adjourned on Jan. 23. The hearing is set to continue in Didsbury provincial court on May 6.
Society director Pat Radford said the charges relate to discrepancies in the society’s finances dating back to late 2016 including where a $10,000 cheque issued by the Town of Olds to the society went as well as money earned from a casino fundraiser.
When Radford returned to the society in the middle of March 2017 after a leave of absence, he said he was catching up on society business and noticed something was wrong.
“I started looking at the books and things weren’t adding up. I at first put it down to sloppy bookkeeping. Then I found it was getting worse and worse,” said Radford in an interview prior to the Jan. 23 court hearing.
Money earned from a November 2016 casino fundraiser was not in the bank account it should have been in, he said, adding a $10,000 cheque from the Town of Olds was also unaccounted for.
“The town confirmed they issued it February 17 and we still hadn’t see it,” said Radford. “After some looking, they confirmed it was deposited but not in the Olds Search and Rescue account.”
Radford said he and a Town of Olds staff member both called Olds RCMP in May 2017 reporting a possible fraud.
He said he also found inconsistences between cheque stubs and actual cheques written on the Olds Search and Rescue account.
Olds RCMP launched an investigation resulting in charges being laid.
Radford said fallout from the alleged offences was widespread.
“It just about put Olds Search and Rescue out of business. It spoiled our relations with other organizations and the town and we lost a lot of good people over this,” said Radford.
Now that the case is making its way through the court system, Radford said the society is trying to focus on its future.
“I can make 2019 work and I can make 2020 work with a little bit of luck,” said Radford. “I’m looking forward to putting this behind us.”
The society currently has 12 members. The team assists police, fire and ambulance as required and also provides security services for community events.
