The former treasurer for the Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association bled the organization's bank accounts nearly dry.
Cory Johnathon Smith, 37, made dozens of e-transfers and stole nearly $45,000 over a seven-month period last year.
On Tuesday, he was in court for his sentencing in Esterhazy, Sask., about 180 kilometres east of Regina.
Crown prosecutor Fred Fisher said in court that after discovering the non-profit organization had close to zero dollars, board members were worried they'd have to cancel the hockey season in Esterhazy.
They pleaded with the town to temporarily suspend ice fees and embarked on fundraising efforts, Fisher said.
"It affected the operation of our organization, placed substantial burdens on volunteers, strained community resources, undermined trust and jeopardized programming for the young athletes we are committed to serving," the association wrote in its victim impact statement.
Glen Simon, who was president of the Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association at the time, discovered the theft after businesses started contacting him about unpaid bills, Fisher said. Simon contacted the bank and got copies of the organization's bank records.
That's when Simon learned the financial updates Smith had been supplying at board meetings "were not accurate" — because the funds had been depleted to "almost zero," Fisher said.
Simon confronted Smith, who said he would pay the money back. Smith initially repaid $20,000 and, on Tuesday, the remaining $24,798 he had stolen was sitting in his lawyer's trust account, ready to be paid back as well.
Former treasurer charged with theft from Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association
Smith was removed as the hockey association's treasurer.
Fisher said like many non-profit organizations, the Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association required two signing authorities for cheques, but that e-transfers could be done by one individual. It has since changed its policies so that's not allowed anymore.
Fisher argued that Smith should receive a one-year conditional sentence order, a jail sentence served in the community.
Defence lawyer Raman Sharma argued for a two-year conditional discharge, which would mean that if Smith abided by probation conditions for two years, he would have no criminal record.
He said in court that Smith is "extremely apologetic" and has taken full responsibility for his actions.
