Former Pembina Hills’ Supt. Richard Harvey, who is accused of defrauding the school division during his four-year tenure, will stand trial in October 2014.
In Barrhead Provincial Court last Tuesday, Harvey, who was not present, pleaded not guilty via an agent for his lawyer Peter J. Royal. The former division Supt. now lives in Newfoundland.
His trial is scheduled to run Oct. 14-17, 2014, in St. Albert Provincial Court. There will be a pre-trial conference in Barrhead on March 21, 2014.
On Oct. 16, 2012 Harvey was charged with breach of trust and fraud over $5,000 for allegedly submitting excessive expense claims between May 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2010.
It has taken 11 months to get a trial date scheduled — Harvey’s first scheduled court appearance was Jan. 8.
On his last scheduled court date of Oct. 22, more than a year after the initial charges were laid, defence lawyer Marvin Braun appeared on behalf of Harvey’s attorney and requested more time.
“Something has to happen with this matter,” said Crown prosecutor Greg Gudelot, noting the delays.
On Harvey’s Sept. 10 court date, Crown prosecutor Jeff Morrison also expressed his concerns over delays in the case.
“This has been sitting in the docket for 11 and a half months,” he said. “It’s a long and complicated matter. We don’t want to set it down.”
Morrison added neither Harvey nor his lawyer had ever actually appeared in court.
