Suspended Mountie to be sentenced
Nathan White pleads guilty to attempted fraud for filing false overtime claims amounting to $3,200
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 9, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A suspended Yellowknife RCMP officer, who pleaded guilty to attempted fraud, will learn his fate on Jan. 19.
That's when deputy judge Brian Bruser is to sentence Const. Nathan White. The 34-year-old was charged in February of 2013 with making false overtime claims. White has been suspended with pay since the Mounties first started investigating him in April of 2013.
White admitted in court that he falsified overtime claims, which amount to more than $3,200. Court heard that he falsely claimed overtime on 11 different occasions between February 2012 and February 2013. Testimony also revealed he never actually pocketed any of the money nor did he take time off in lieu of the bogus overtime pay. Two other charges, one for forgery, the other for knowingly using a forged document, have now been withdrawn.
At a sentencing hearing Wednesday, White's Edmonton lawyer Steven Fix told the court his client had been suffering from significant depression and stress at the time of the offences. Fix said White also felt justified in claiming false overtime because as an RCMP officer in the North he was expected to work beyond regular hours without getting paid for them.
White did not share his depression problems with anybody connected to the RCMP because of what he called a cultural myth whereby men are not supposed to share their problems and difficulties with anyone, the lawyer said.
He called White's transgressions completely out of character.
"He didn't have anyone in Yellowknife he could speak to about his problems, so he acted out," Fix said. "This was a cry for help."
Once confronted with the allegations, he confessed the crime to his commanding officers.
"He has already suffered considerable consequences as a result of his actions and that may continue into the future," Fix said. "Regardless of what happens in the court proceedings, White will still have to face disciplinary actions from the RCMP."
Fix called on Bruser to give White a conditional discharge.
Crown prosecutor David McWhinnie said as a police officer, White is supposed to have a special trust with the citizens he serves. The public believes officers will conduct themselves appropriately and be of good behaviour, he said.
"I would describe this offence as an aggravated breach of the public's trust," said McWhinne, who travelled from Whitehorse to prosecute the case. "The whole community was the attempted victim."
It is standard practice to use a prosecutor from outside the jurisdiction when a police officer is before the courts in order to avoid any suggestion of a conflict of interest.
McWhinnie said the original charge of fraud was reduced to the lesser charge of attempted fraud because White did not actually gain anything financially from the falsified overtime claims. He called for Bruser to impose a sentence of three to four months. McWhinnie said he wouldn't likely oppose a sentence of house arrest, noting that a police officer's safety could be placed in jeopardy if he or she is sentenced to jail time.
White wore a striped dress shirt and tie and black dress pants for the sentencing hearing. He apologized to Bruser and said he had brought shame on the RCMP.
"I wish I could take back what I have done," he said. "I have so much remorse and regret. I'm very sorry for taking the court's time."
White said his personal life is much different now than it was at the time of his offences. He said he now has a partner and has become a father to her children, ages 16 and six. He said everything he does now is with them in mind.
White has been an RCMP officer since January, 2007. He was initially posted to Tuktoyaktuk before being transferred to Yellowknife. He had no criminal record prior to his conviction on the attempted fraud charge. White had several letters of reference and support that were entered into evidence. An employment support worker from the RCMP was in court for the hearing as was a member of the Canadian military. White also serves with the army reserves in Yellowknife.
Bruser said he needed time before sentencing White. He noted there is a wide disparity in sentences in case law that were quoted by both the prosecutor and the defence lawyer dealing with police officers facing criminal charges.
