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November 26, 2015 - 2:05 PM
KAMLOOPS - A former Bank of Montreal teller will spend the next four months under house arrest after stealing more than $16,000 from his employer to gamble at the casino.
David Somyos Hammond, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of theft over $5,000 today, Nov. 26, in Kamloops Provincial Court.
Hammond, a Thompson Rivers University business student, represented himself in court. He credited his own chequing account different amounts over two months totalling $16,890.94.
Crown prosecutor Frank Caputo said Hammond used the money to gamble at the local casino and intended to pay back the debt with his winnings.
Caputo said Hammond’s employers eventually discovered the unauthorized amounts credited to his account and terminated him after he confessed to taking the funds.
“He was cooperative and forthcoming with the information and expressed remorse for his actions,” Caputo said. “He said he worked two jobs and was stressed paying day-to-day bills.”
Crown proposed a conditional sentence order so Hammond could serve his sentence in the community. Judge Chris Cleaveley imposed a six-month conditional sentence and ordered Hammond to follow a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for the first four months. Cleaveley decided four months was appropriate given Hammond’s ‘active’ lifestyle.
“I do regret that this happened. This whole year has been a disaster. This has been quite stressful for me,” Hammond said. “I understand the house arrest part. I just like to stay active, that’s the one thing."
Cleaveley ordered Hammond to pay back the entire amount to the bank. He is not permitted to go to casinos while serving his sentence.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015