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Fired Nanaimo Hospice executive director jailed for ripping off non-profit

Dec 21, 2018 | 3:29 PM

NANAIMO — The former disgraced executive director of the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society will spend four months in jail for defrauding the non-profit. 

Susan Maureen Steen, 71, was also given two years probation and ordered to pay back $17,000 to the Society. Though she pleaded guilty to stealing $6,000, the repayment amount was larger due to the costs of financial audits and legal fees incurred by the Society due to her actions. 

Crown prosecutor Caroline Narroway told NanaimoNewsNOW the sentence sends a strong message.

“It just shows the seriousness the courts take in matters such as this,” Narroway said. “Forcing somebody to go to jail right off the bat, that’s pretty significant…This is a person without a criminal record.”

Steen will have to complete a counselling program as directed by her probation order and must provide all future employers a copy of the Judge’s decision in the matter. 

Narroway said deunciation and deterrence are key sentencing factors while dealing with breach of trust issues.

“Certainly you can’t have a bigger breach of trust than when dealing with the Hospice Society and the work they do,” Narroway said.

Steen was hired by the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society in December, 2016 and fired in June, 2017 after her inappropriate spending came to light. 

Narroway said Steen defrauded the society throughout her entire employment period, with expenditures made at casinos and hair salons, among many other personal uses.

Steen pleaded guilty to a charge each of theft and fraud last April in relation to her spending behaviour.

She sat silently and with an expressionless face during her brief sentencing hearing on Thursday. 

Three supporters of the Society were in the gallery, but refused to comment to NanaimoNewsNOW regarding their reaction to the verdict.

Steen’s legal troubles are far from over.

She’s accused of stealing $109,000 from the Central Okanagan Hospice Association between 2012 and 2016 when she allegedly had a credit card as the executive director of the non-profit agency.

Though the alleged thefts happened years ago, Steen wasn’t charged until last month.

She told Kelowna media she was dealing with “a profound gambling problem,” is remorseful for her actions and is getting treatment.

 

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes