Judge sentences Robert Riley Saunders to 5 years in jail – Kelowna News

Photograph: Wayne Moore

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

In sentencing Saunders to 5 a long time in jail, Supreme Court docket Justice Steve Wilson turned down defence law firm Brian Fitzpatrick’s ask for for a conditional sentence.

Justice Wilson explained Saunders put his individual pursuits higher than all other folks and his enthusiasm was greed.

“I do not locate that he is remorseful and even now he seeks to blame other people,” stated Justice Wilson.

He dominated a conditional sentence was inadequate in the scenario mainly because Saunders committed really serious offences above quite a few several years inspired by greed and a custodial sentence was needed.

He also stated the vulnerability of the youth Saunders was meant to be guarding was an aggravating element in the length of the sentence.

“Mr. Saunders was indifferent about how his steps would impression the youth he was intended to assist,” added the decide.

He did acknowledge that the former guardianship worker did not intentionally established out to hurt but all over again famous that Saunders place himself initial, and not only did he pick out to go on to defraud the BC Ministry of Children and Relatives Enhancement and taxpayers, the amount of money of funds he took escalated until eventually he was caught.

Saunders was taken into custody instantly soon after the hearing concluded.

The judge turned down Fitzpatrick’s request to advise his customer provide his sentence at William Head minimal protection federal correctional institution on Vancouver Island. It will be up to Correctional Expert services Canada to ascertain the place Saunders is imprisoned.

A team of social employees appeared satisfied and relieved with the sentence as they still left the Kelowna courthouse.

Justice Wilson’s whole written conclusion will be released at a later date.

Image: Cindy White

A team of MCFD social personnel go away the Kelowna courthouse just after previous colleague Robert Riley Saunders was sentenced to 5 several years in jail.

Primary 10:48 a.m.

Robert Riley Saunders has been sentenced to 5 decades in prison. Justice Wilson established the punishment at 5 several years for fraud, two decades for breach, which will be served concurrently and one particular month for forgery.

Saunders, a former social employee with the Ministry of Kids and Spouse and children Advancement, pleaded responsible in September of very last 12 months to defrauding the ministry of much more than $460,000, depriving the susceptible Indigenous youth in his care.

Saunders pleaded responsible very last year to 3 of the 13 expenses he was going through fraud around $5,000, breach of trust in connection with his obligations as a kid defense guardianship employee, and using a cast document.

Before his sentencing, Saunders expressed ‘sincere remorse’ and explained he was sorry to his employer, his co-employees, and the youth and families impacted. Saunders claimed he wished he could go back in time to be the voice of cause to suggest his more youthful self.

He had been billed with a number of counts of fraud over $5,000, breach of rely on, and forging a college diploma, which he used to receive a task at the MCFD back again in 1996.

The Crown was looking for a prison sentence of among 6 and eight yrs, when defence lawyer Brian Fitzpatrick argued that his customer is remorseful and proposed two several years of house arrest followed by three yrs of probation.

This is a developing tale and will be updated as far more facts gets to be offered.