nova scotia parishes fraud: amended submissions presented in woman's joint recommendation sentencing
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patricia anne dixon arrives for a sentencing hearing at dartmouth provincial court monday
tim krochak
counsel in the joint recommendation sentencing of patricia anne dixon returned to provincial court monday with amended submissions.
crown attorney brian cox and defence attorney aimee walters appeared before judge amy sakalauskas to address questions from the november hearing with regard to the prohibition order, terms of sentence and restitution.
dixon, 52, of east chezzetcook, defrauded two roman catholic parishes of more than $225,000. in may, dixon pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over $5,000 shortly before she was to stand trial on 10 fraud-related charges.
the fraud was committed between 2010 and 2020 while dixon was employed as a bookkeeper for the former saint anselm’s parish in west chezzetcook and then saint john of the cross parish, which includes three churches between east chezzetcook and sheet harbour.
according to an agreed statement of facts, the archdiocese of halifax-yarmouth decided to close saint anselm’s church in late 2018. parishioners appealed to the archdiocese to reopen the church, only to find out that the parish was almost $800,000 in debt.
on sept. 25, cox and walters asked the judge to impose a conditional sentence of two years less a day, followed by a year of probation. the proposed sentence also included a restitution order for $225,258.
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included in the amended submissions presented at dartmouth provincial court were a lifetime ban on dixon handling money in accordance with section 380.2 of the criminal code, a conditional sentence order for two years less a day of house arrest and three years of probation, and the restitution.
cox defended the joint recommendation to sakalauskas, saying it would allow dixon to serve her sentence in the community.
“this is not shocking; this is the proper, effective administration of justice,” said cox. “this is how our system is supposed to work. a guilty plea has to mean something.
“from the crown’s perspective, admitting what she admitted to in front of the entire church community in the detail that has been set out, it is not unreasonable that ms. dixon, a first-time offender, be sentenced to a conditional sentence for two years and a three-year probation order and be prohibited for life from ever handling money again.”
walters said public interest sets a high threshold for judges to reject a joint recommendation submission.
“(it) is intended to foster confidence in the bargaining system,” said walters. “the crown and the defence have come together with a joint recommendation and have submitted additional case law as well as agreed to tighten the (conditional sentence order) with probation, on handling money and house arrest, and a lengthy probationary period.
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“ms. dixon has shown remorse for her actions, she has articulated concern for the parishioners and a loss of place of worship. she accepts responsibility for her actions and has agreed to more strict conditions in her (conditional sentence order).”
the legal entity to which the restitution would be paid was determined to be saint john of the cross parish, which amalgamated several parishes in the surrounding area.
sakalauskas said she will give her decision jan. 6.
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