Former Leitrim hockey association president

apologizes for forging cheques, pocketing cash

By: Metro Ottawa Published on Thu Jul 19 2012

He wrote fake cheques on the Leitrim Minor Hockey Association’s account, misdirected the funds to himself and a hockey team
and let the association’s treasurer take the blame. Now facing possible jail time or a conditional sentence, the former president of
the LMHA David Barker says he’s sorry.

“I just want to say to everybody that I’m sorry,” David Barker told the courtroom during his sentencing hearing. “It is my
responsibility for what I pocketed and for what was not there.”

Earlier this year Barker, 56, was convicted on several charges including theft, fraud, and forgery in connection to the $157,000
that went missing from the association’s account during his three-year presidency.

In a verbal statement Thursday, Barker said he felt remorse for his actions and for using the association’s former treasurer’s
name, Tracey Bender, on fraudulent cheques.

“Tracey, I’m very sorry,” said Barker. “I would not have wished that upon anybody.”

Defence lawyer Catherine Huot said Barker should serve a conditional sentence of two years less a day in the community,
including one year of house arrest and three years of probation.

Crown prosecutor Julien Lalande called the conditional sentence “completely inappropriate” and argued that Barker likely
pocketed close to $57,000. Lalande pushed for a jail sentence of 12 to 18 months.

In her victim impact statement, Tracy Bender described the ordeal as a “rollercoaster of emotions” after her friends blamed her for
stealing the association's funds.

“It has taken almost six years to prove to the community that, although I may not have been the best treasurer, I had only good
intentions and that I was manipulated by an evil man who used his position, fake friendship, my trust and my innocent character
to defraud the families in our community,” said Bender.

The court also heard that Barker skipped his original sentencing hearing on Wednesday because he was brought to hospital after
going into a bout of depression. Defence lawyer Catherine Huot said she had received a message from Barker that was "suicidal
in nature" so she brought him to hospital and contacted police.

The sentencing has been adjourned to July 27.

Minor hockey president charged with fraud
August 18, 2009 | 01:00

BETH JOHNSTON, Sun Media- Sun

OTTAWA -- Ottawa Police have charged the past president of the Leitrim Minor Hockey Association with stealing more than
$130,000 from the volunteer organization.

David Lawrence Barker, 54, has been charged with 14 charges of fraud over $5,000, forgery, money laundering and criminal
breach of trust.

The association realized there was a problem in 2006, when they discovered they had a $72,000 debt to the Gloucester Minor
Hockey Association for ice in 2005. There were two years worth of debts to other organizations as well.

“We realized we had no money in our bank account,” said current president Paul Conley.

It was September, and what followed was a “mad scramble” to get the 450 players back on the ice for that season.

“We didn’t know how we were going to get them to play hockey that year. We had no money for jerseys,” Conley said.

Three years later, the association is in good financial shape. The recovery is a testament to the hard work of volunteers in the
community, he explained.

They held fundraisers, their debtors carried their debts for them, they put more kids on each team to save money on expensive
ice time.

“Our program is very stable now,” he said.

“I feel great for the people, it was quite worrisome for them but now they can see the end of their hard work.”

Ottawa Police fraud detective Brenda-Jane Kerr hopes the charges will provide some relief for the volunteers who worked so
hard to ensure the game went on.

“What’s really at issue here is breach of trust. We put a lot of trust in people who look after our young people and their
recreation,” she said.

Barker will appear in court Sept. 28, 2009.

beth.johnston@sunmedia.ca

David Lawrence Barker is charged with:

 Two counts of Fraud Over $5,000

 Two counts of Forgery
 Two counts of Uttering Forged Documents
 One count of Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
 One count of Launder Proceeds of Canadian Crime
 One count of Breach by Public Officer
 One count of Criminal Breach of Trust
 One count of Theft by Person Required to Account
 One count of Misappropriate Money Held Under Direction
 One count of Fraudulent concealment
 One count of False Pretence section
 

18 months in jail for minor hockey fraudster

18 months in jail for minor hockey fraudster

BY DARREN BROWN, OTTAWA SUN

FIRST POSTED: FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 11:54 AM EDT | UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 03:45 PM EDT

In the end it was shattering a bond of trust that landed a disgraced former minor hockey president behind bars Friday.

In his sentencing of David Barker, the former head of the Leitrim Minor Hockey Association (LMHA), Justice Hugh McLean expounded the
depths of his misdeed than slammed him with an 18-month jail term. The judge also ordered Barker to pay $161,000 in restitution and handed
him a $42,000 fine — nearly the maximum the Crown requested.

Barker was convicted in February of a string of charges including fraud, theft, forgery and breach of trust in connection with nearly $160,000
that went missing from the association’s coffers from 2004 to 2006.

Upon hearing Barker lost out on a conditional sentence, smiles broke over a group of LMHA members and supporters.

Dressed in faded jeans and a green, pin-stripped golf shirt, Baker remained silent.

McLean said the court found the stolen funds were part of a scheme to defraud the hockey association.

He added Barker’s failure to make any re-payment or acknowledge any responsibility only aggravated matters.

While he acknowledged Barker’s loss of social status, including family and friends in the sports community, and a previous clean record and
good employment, it couldn’t out weight the damage.

In addition to the large amount of money, and the duration of offence — the fraud occurred over a two-year span — McLean cited the numerous
victims including the young hockey players at the heart of the association.

“It must be brought home ... an abuse of trust will not be tolerated,” concluded McLean.

Barker has 10 years to pay the $42,000 fine which will eventually end up with the hockey association.

Defence lawyer Catherine Huot felt the decision was stiff.

“I think we’re definitely disappointed. We’ll discuss our options if there are any options to discuss.”

Former LMHA treasurer, Mark Saunders, calls it differently.

“He definitely got what he deserved. It sends a really strong message. If you’re going to run the association ... you’ve got to be accountable and
I think it’s a great day.”

Gerry Doyle, former LMHA president who helped lead the investigation, agrees.

“I think the court punctuated the point in the entire matter when they gave him the maximum amount of time – that was sending out a very clear
message at the time that we’re not going to tolerate this and that the community itself was robbed.”

darren.brown@sunmedia.ca

@ottawasundbrown