Former town administrator avoids jail time for fraud

A former small town administrator will spend the next two years under house arrest for defrauding several community organizations in Hudson Bay.

Linda Purves, 48, received a conditional sentence Tuesday in Melfort Court of Queen’s Bench for stealing almost $280,000 to feed an alcohol problem and other addiction issues.

The fraud happened over a period of a few years and was eventually uncovered in 2008.

The Crown was asking that her sentence be served in jail, however Justice Eugene Scheibel felt serving her sentence in the community was more appropriate.

“In this case I think the judge felt that she was not a risk to the community and that she could safely serve it at home, “said Crown Prosecutor Tom Healey.

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She is remorseful, Healey said.

“She issued an apology to the victims and she issued an apology to her community as well.”

Purves defrauded more than $155,000 from the Rural Municipality of Hudson Bay, $33,468 from the Hudson Bay Minor Sports Concession and $87,000 from the local conservation organization.

Her conditional sentence states she must perform 200 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution.

bbosker@panow.com