The former director of the Westlock Daycare faces jail time and a six-figure restitution order.
In Westlock Provincial Court Oct. 28 Roxanne Louise Gilmar pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 after stealing at least $100,000 from her former employer, the Westlock Child Care Society, over a two-year period.
Judge Karl Wilberg sentenced Gilmar to seven-and-a-half months in jail, followed by one year of probation upon her release. She will also pay back the $100,000 by way of a compensation order.
The sentence was presented as a joint submission between Crown prosecutor Greg Gudelot and defence counsel Dane Bullerwell.
According to the agreed statement of facts, between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2013, Gilmar stole $100,000 from the society by way of writing phony overtime cheques in her own name.
At the time Gilmar was the executive director of the Westlock Child Care Society and spent 25 years with the organization.
When the society’s account became overdrawn an audit revealed Gilmar had received unusually high compensation, launching a police investigation. Gilmar stepped down from her position in January 2014 and was formally charged in June of the same year.
Prior to sentencing Gudelot told court that despite Gilmar being a first-time offender, a strong message needed to be sent given the severity of the crime.
“It sends a message of deterrence,” Gudelot said.
Bullerwell painted a picture of his client as a lonely and bored woman coming off a divorce who “gambled the money away.”
When given the opportunity, Gilmar did not address court, but did provide a written letter read by Bullerwell expressing remorse for her actions.
“I want to express how sorry I am,” the letter stated.
During sentencing, Judge Wilberg acknowledged it’s rare to send a non-violent, first-time offender to jail, but said there are exceptions to the rule.
“The magnitude of betrayal is significant,” he said.
Following her release Gilmar will complete one year of probation where she will be required to address her gambling problem.
“We don’t want to see Mrs. Gilmar before the courts again,” Gudelot said of the probation.
Gilmar was also ordered to return the $100,000 through a compensation order.
“This will follow her for life,” Bullerwell said.
