A former treasurer of the Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association depleted the organization’s finances through unauthorized transactions. Cory Johnathon Smith, aged 37, conducted numerous e-transfers, embezzling close to $45,000 over a seven-month span last year. Smith faced sentencing in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, located approximately 180 kilometers east of Regina.
During the court proceedings, Crown prosecutor Fred Fisher disclosed that upon discovering the organization’s near-zero balance, board members feared they might have to cancel the hockey season in Esterhazy. To alleviate the financial strain, they sought temporary relief on ice fees and launched fundraising campaigns.
The association’s victim impact statement highlighted the detrimental impact of Smith’s actions, stressing how it disrupted operations, burdened volunteers, strained community resources, eroded trust, and jeopardized programming for young athletes. The association’s president at the time, Glen Simon, unearthed the theft after vendors contacted him regarding unpaid invoices. Subsequent investigations revealed discrepancies in the financial reports presented by Smith during board meetings.
Smith, initially promising to reimburse the funds, repaid $20,000 upfront and had the remaining $24,798 earmarked for repayment. Consequently, Smith was dismissed as the hockey association’s treasurer. Fisher noted that although the association’s policies mandated dual signatories for cheque transactions, e-transfers could be executed by a single individual. In response to the breach, the organization revised its protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
Advocating for a one-year conditional sentence order, Fisher underscored the need for accountability. Conversely, defense counsel Raman Sharma advocated for a two-year conditional discharge, citing Smith’s remorse and personal challenges during the period of the theft.
Smith’s defense highlighted the emotional turmoil he was experiencing during a difficult separation, which impacted his mental well-being and ability to meet financial obligations. Sharma characterized Smith’s actions as a result of poor judgment stemming from his emotional turmoil, describing the theft as a regrettable and irrational choice.
Considering the gravity of the offense, Judge Ross Green imposed a 12-month conditional sentence order on Smith. This ruling entails a criminal record for Smith, with the potential for jail time if the conditions of the sentence are breached. The stipulations include adherence to a curfew, abstinence from substances, participation in mental health programs, full restitution of the stolen amount, and a written apology to the Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association.