Woman guilty of defrauding employer of nearly $47,000 awaiting sentence later this summer

By Delon Shurtz on May 25, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A former Lethbridge woman who stole nearly $47,000 in cash and merchandise from her long-time employer, won’t know until later this summer whether she’ll go to jail or serve her sentence under house arrest.
Melanie Dawn Vaillancourt was scheduled to be sentenced Monday in Lethbridge provincial court, but it was adjourned to Aug. 26, by which time lawyers hope COVID restrictions will be lifted sufficient enough to allow Vaillancourt to personally attend court.
The Crown is seeking a jail sentence for Vaillancourt of 12 to 14 months, plus probation, for stealing $43,000 from the King of Trade in downtown Lethbridge. Vaillancourt, who worked at the business for about 12 years, also stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, which included video games and controllers, and other toys.
Lethbridge lawyer Ingrid Hess is hoping her client can avoid jail, and is asking for a conditional sentence of 18 to 20 months, which is considered a custodial sentence but typically comprises house arrest and curfew.
Hess said during a sentencing hearing in March, that Vaillancourt’s circumstances are exceptional and warrant a lesser sentence than sought by the Crown. She said her client was not living an extravagant lifestyle from her thefts, but was barely surviving as she tried to support her young children and deal with a lazy and abusive boyfriend who got her addicted to drugs.
“She is doing her very best to stay clean,” Hess said.
Between April 2017 and December 2018 Vaillancourt defrauded her employer by taking money from the cash register and safe, stealing items, and manipulating inventory on the computer. When police conducted an audit and viewed video surveillance footage, Vaillancourt was seen committing the offences, some of which occurred when she worked on weekends, and even when the store was closed; after she locked up or before she opened.
Crown Prosecutor Dawn Janecke said the offences are particularly aggravating because Vaillancourt worked in a position of trust and stole a large amount of cash and merchandise. And she stopped stealing only after she was caught.
She is, however, remorseful, Janecke added, and she pleaded guilty, which saved the court from having to run a difficult, costly and time-consuming trial.
Vaillancourt, 40, was charged in March 2019 with fraud over $5,000, theft under $5,000, falsification of documents, possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000 and possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000. Her lawyer pleaded guilty on her behalf last November to the single charge of fraud, and sentencing was adjourned.
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