Sudbury man going to jail for writing bad cheques

BY KEITH LACEY

A young Sudbury man who defrauded a number financial institutions, businesses and people after being given lenient sentences for previous behaviour in the past was handed a stiff jail sentence Wednesday.

"He has become a professional criminal," said Justice Guy Mahaffy in handing down a seven-month jail sentence on top of two months Jeffrey Lariviere has already spent in custody since being arrested in April for writing bad cheques.

Court heard that between February and May, Lariviere wrote numerous bad cheques to himself at various banks and credit unions in Sudbury, said assistant Crown attorney Susan Stothart.

In early March, Lariviere wrote a bad cheque to a local man for just under $1,600.

In May 2004, Lariviere wrote two separate bad cheques for just over $1,000 at the same Canadian Tire outlet.

At the time of the 2004 incident, Lariviere was on probation and under court order to repay more than $4,000 he defrauded from various banks and businesses. Court heard even though he was working at the time, he hadn't repaid a penny.

During his latest fraud spree, Lariviere defrauded more than $12,000.

Defence counsel Alex Toffoli said the circumstances of this case are troubling. He would not normally ask for a conditional sentence to be served in the community, however, Lariviere has two jobs and could pay restitution to his many victims.

The lawyer ased for a one-year conditional sentence of strict house arrest so Lariviere would be free to work and repay his victims.

The conduct of this accused makes it clear he should not be given any consideration for a conditional sentence, said the veteran judge.

Lariviere committed this latest set of frauds while on probation and his past conduct in failing to obey court orders to repay other victims makes him ineligible for any more leniency from the courts, he said.

"The time has come where he has to face reality," he said.

The Crown had asked for a sentence of nine more months behind bars on top of pre-trial custody, but Mahaffy said seven months is more appropriate for a young man serving his first extended sentence behind bars.

Mahaffy also ordered a stand alone restitution order against Lariviere to repay his latest set of victims.

People who defraud banks and financial institutions affect all citizens as the banks pass on those costs through service charges and higher interest rates, said Mahaffy.