By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Taber fraud trial pushed back nearly a year

Jun 13, 2018 | 3:29 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A fraud trial that was scheduled to begin this fall has been pushed into late next year.

During an appearance in Court of Queen’s Bench in Lethbridge this week, Scott Blanchard’s trial that had been set to run Nov. 19-30, 2018, was vacated, with a new trial by judge alone then scheduled for Oct. 7-18, 2019.

In explaining the lengthy delay, the court was told that the prosecution has identified additional witnesses for their case. It was also noted that part of the postponement is to accommodate the accused – meaning it will not have any Jordan implications, which set time limits for a case to reach trial.

Blanchard is accused of taking nearly $500,000 from the Oilmen’s Club in Taber, while he was the manager. Taber Police say they received a complaint on Oct. 23, 2014, of a possible fraud, resulting in charges of theft over $5,000 and fraud over $5,000 against Blanchard.

Following a court appearance in 2017, defence lawyer Doug Carle spoke to members of the media and pointed the finger at someone else.

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“Any funds that [Blanchard] took from the Oilmen’s, here in Taber, was not only with the knowledge of the owner, but was with the absolute consent and direction of the owner,” stated Carle. “Mr. Blanchard has indicated and will prove at trial, that that’s the manner in which he got paid, that’s the way the owner wanted it set up.”

Carle went on to say that Blanchard told him that he was audited by Revenue Canada for how he was paid, and that the amount was far below what police say was taken from the club.

“Any money that was taken over and above the amount that he’s already justifiably took for his pay and salary, was in fact taken either by the owner or someone on the owner’s behalf, in the same manner that Mr. Blanchard took the money, quote-unquote, off the books,” explained Carle.