Former Stratford rotary club official jailed for stealing nearly $18K from club

The former co-president of the Rotary Club ofStratfordhas been sentenced to 90 days in jail for stealing nearly $18,000 from the charitable organization over a two year period.

49-year-old James Joseph Pineaupleaded guilty to the theft in March.Months earlier other executive members noticed the missing funds and called RCMP.

According to the agreed statement of facts read in provincial court Wednesday, when questioned by police,Pineau admitted to writing 57 cheques to himself.

He also admitted to forging the signatures of other executive members who had signing authority along with him, to make it look likeall cheques had the required two signatures.

"It was hard on our club, very hard. It was probably close to 80 per centof the money we had in the bank," said Emile Gallant, the club's current president."These are funds we raise by doing activities, and a lot of volunteer work by our members."

The court heard Wednesday that Gallant's name had been forged by Pineau24 times over two years.

"Sometimes you have trust in a person, and you don't question as much as you should.We've learned a lesson on that," said Gallant.

Gallant saidthe club was able to recoup the stolenfunds through insurance.

'Abused his position'

He saidtheclub hasalso put new measures in place to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.

"All cheques are made at our meetings now, and we get financial reports every two months direct reports from the Credit Union where we have our chequing account.We've made sure everything's in place now,"said Gallant.

In delivering her sentence Wednesday, Judge Nancy Orrsaid Pineau "abused his position [as co-president] and took advantage of it."

When asked why his clientstole the money and how he spent it, defence lawyer Thane MacEachernsaid neither answer is completely clear to Pineau.

MacEachernsaid Pineau has had mental-health issues and hasn't always been "mindful of the things you should be paying attention to day-to-day."

He said Pineauis now getting treatment and is "very remorseful for his actions."

Jail time on weekends

While he will have to spend 90 days in jail, Judge Orrruled Pineau can serve his time on weekends.

She saidher hope is that Pineau who is currently unemployed will be able to find a job and start paying back the moneyhe stole from the rotary club.

Pineau was ordered to eventually pay full restitution as part of his sentence.

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