James Dekowny has received his sentence after nearly a year of court proceedings.
Dekowny first was charged in May of 2024. He was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest on Wednesday afternoon in Swift Current Provincial Court. Dekowny plead guilty to fraud under $5,000 stemming from his time as the executive director of the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation.
His specific crime was writing himself a cheque for $3,900 of the foundation's money in order to fund the refurbishment of a pair of freezers at his M&M Food Market business in Swift Current.
Crown prosecutor, Curtis Wiebe, noted that even though this was a smaller offence in comparison to similar frauds, the gravity of the offence was just as big.
"When I said anything less than a jail sentence, what I'm saying is anything less than a conditional sentence or a jail sentence in that custodial facility," clarified Wiebe.
Darren Kraushaar, Dekowny's lawyer, noted in court that Dekowny admitted to doing this on May 20, 2023, to the foundation's board of directors. He was able to pay back the full amount the following day, May 21, 2023.
Kraushaar cited that the fraud was an episode of lacking judgment from Dekowny. He described how leading up to this crime, Dekowny's father had suffered a stroke. Dekowny was said to have been blaming himself for not better advocating for his father's care following the stroke, preluding his eventual passing away.
The defence continued by stating that Dekowny had also been covering up the financial situation at his M&M location from his wife and that the stress of that situation was also a contributing factor.
Judge A.F. Jacobson was also presented with letters of support from the community on behalf of Dekowny. He made special note that the words he read in the letter from Mrs. Dekowny gave him insight into the repercussions Dekowny had experienced at home following this incident.
Jacobson also noted that Dekowny was in a position very few of his court guests begin with. His advantages and position afforded him not only better resources but also placed him in a much higher position of trust.
While he admitted it was a lighter punishment, he sentenced Dekowny to 12 months of house arrest. Conditions were the requirement to report to an appointed officer, abstaining from drugs and alcohol excluding cannabis, to obey a curfew of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and to reside in the jurisdiction of the court, being both Alberta and Saskatchewan at his listed residencies.
Dekowny has begun working in Alberta, following his inability to maintain employment in Saskatchewan due to the media coverage of his legal proceedings his lawyer alleged.
Helen Arnold, board chair for the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation, was present at the sentencing and had a prepared statement.
“The board of directors of the Doctor Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation acknowledges the conclusion of legal proceedings against a former employee found guilty of misappropriating foundation funds. Throughout this challenging period, our staff has shown remarkable dedication to our mission and we are grateful for their unwavering commitment. While we regret the lengthy judicial process, we remain determined to see justice served and to recover funds intended for healthcare initiatives in the southwest.
“Due to legal constraints during the investigation and court proceedings, we were limited in what we could share publicly. We appreciate the patience and trust of our donors and community partners during this time.
“In response to this incident, we have implemented enhanced financial controls and governance procedures to provide stronger safeguards for donor contributions. These measures reflect our absolute commitment to financial integrity and transparent stewardship of the resources entrusted to us.
“The board unanimously pursued this matter to its conclusion, seeking both accountability and restitution. Today's verdict accomplishes both objectives and allows us to move forward with a renewed focus on our core mission, fundraising for improved healthcare services throughout our region. We remain deeply committed to our community and to honoring the trust placed in us by our donors and partners.”