(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Former Buckland administrator found not guilty of theft over $5,000

Dec 14, 2021 | 5:00 PM

A former administrator for the Rural Municipality (RM) of Buckland has been cleared of any wrong doing in a court case that dates back almost two years.

The not guilty verdict was rendered Tuesday at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

Tara Kerber, who had been employed as the R.M.’s administrator from 2012 to 2019, was charged in November 2019 with theft over $5,000.

At issue was a number of items donated to the RM from the RCMP that Kerber had kept stored on her property or discarded. She testified there was simply no room for them at the RM’s shop.

The dozens of items included various hand and powers tools, as well as an ATV and dirt bikes.

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Among the Crown’s witnesses during the trial was the RCMP officer who initially conducted the inventory of items to donate and was also there for the exchange.

He had explained he had made up an inventory list which included photographs. On the stand, Kerber said she was never made aware of any such a list until after she was charged.

She also testified she never meant any wrong doing. When asked by Crown lawyer Doug Howell to explain why it took nearly seven months after her employment ended for the items to be returned, Kerber explained she had been actively looking for a new job, and her focus was not on her past employment.

When explaining his decision, Judge H. Harradence explained that while the circumstances seemed suspicious, the testimony provided by the RCMP officer had too many inconsistencies with respect to dates and who was there to pick up/drop off the donated goods.

Kerber’s lawyer Gerald Perkins declined to speak to paNOW about the verdict.

In a statement provided to paNOW, the RM’s current administration explained that while disappointed in the outcome of the trial, the reeve and council are grateful and appreciative to the RCMP for their generous donation.

“We know the efforts made by the RCMP daily to work within the powers given to them to protect our citizens and would like to express our gratitude and thanks for their service and protection,” the statement said.

The statement went on to explain that all returned items have been kept in storage until the completion of the trial.

“Now that the verdict has been made, the decision process can begin as to how the RM will handle the donation, whether the municipal shop can make use of some of the tools returned or if there is to be a public tender or auction, and if so, how the proceeds will be used.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell