R. v. Cameron (L.), (1999) 241 A.R. 87 (QB)

• Judge: Lee, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: March 09, 1999
• Citations: (1999), 241 A.R. 87 (QB)

R. v. Cameron (L.) (1999), 241 A.R. 87 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] A.R. TBEd. MR.052

Her Majesty The Queen v. Lorraine Cameron (accused)

(Action No. 9803-1769-C5)

Indexed As: R. v. Cameron (L.)

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Lee, J.

March 9, 1999.

Summary:

The accused pled guilty to a charge of committing fraud over $5,000. She defrauded the Alberta Government of $16,998 in social assistance payments over a five year period.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench sentenced the accused to 30 days' imprison­ment, 18 months' probation with 240 hours of community service.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5859 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5833

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Deterrence - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5859 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5841

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Age of accused - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5859 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.7

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Denunciation or repudiation of conduct - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5859 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5849.7

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Representations of counsel - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5859 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5859

Sentence - Fraud - The accused, 61, pled guilty to defrauding the Alberta Govern­ment of $16,998 in social assistance pay­ments over a five year period by failing to declare employment income - She co-operated with the investigation - Fraud not sophisticated - Raised five children as a single parent - Frail mental state - Some­what remorseful - Arranged to repay the money - Shoplifting conviction in 1968 - Joint sentencing submission of 18 month conditional sentence - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench sentenced the accused to 30 days' imprisonment, 18 months' proba­tion with 240 hours of community service - Serious aggravating factors were the lengthy and systematic manipulation of the welfare system for five years - General deterrence required denunciation of any significant welfare fraud - The aggravating factors, general deterrence and denunci­ation principles overrode the joint sub­mission and mitigating factors.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Brady (J.R.) (1998), 209 A.R. 321; 160 W.A.C. 321; 121 C.C.C.(3d) 504 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. S.J.W., [1998] A.J. No. 28; 209 A.R. 297; 160 W.A.C. 297; 15 C.R.(5th) 159 (C.A.), addendum [1998] A.R. Uned. 92 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Goin (D.J.) (1999), 232 A.R. 128; 195 W.A.C. 128 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Tonka (B.E.) (1999), 228 A.R. 388; 188 W.A.C. 388 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Randhile (S.R.) and Larocque (D.B.) (1997), 209 A.R. 209; 160 W.A.C. 209; 121 C.C.C.(3d) 565 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Barteski (S.D.) (1995), 174 A.R. 189; 102 W.A.C. 189 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Knorr (W.E.) (1997), 200 A.R. 238; 146 W.A.C. 238 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Najem, [1993] A.J. No. 892 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Merenick (1991), 117 A.R. 368; 2 W.A.C. 368 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Carder (J.) (1995), 174 A.R. 212; 102 W.A.C. 212 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Hudson, [1995] A.J. No. 797 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Sinclair, [1996] A.J. No. 464 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Kiesman (1991), 75 Man.R.(2d) 314; 6 W.A.C. 314 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 38].

Counsel:

Not disclosed.

This matter was heard before Lee, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on March 9, 1999.