Court update: jail time in college fraud case, prelim. dates set in attempted murder and aggravated assault, trial set in drug arrest

Eight other charges, four each of forgery and causing someone to act on a forged document as if it were genuine, were dropped.

Van De Walle worked at the college for almost a year from October 31, 2016, to October 11, 2017.

An agreed statement of facts in the case says Van De Walle started as a program developer in the Continuing Education department.

She told the college she had secured over $1.9 million in grants from the provincial and federal governments, but those claims were false. Signatures of government and college employees had been forged on documents. Van de Walle had also used various techniques to cover up that these were fake.

Before the fraud was discovered, she was promoted to acting director of continuing education and given a raise of over $3,000 a month.

After the promotion, a company she owned billed the college for over $9,000 worth of work that was already being done by college staff, with more than $4,300 being paid out. A fake Workers Compensation Board clearance letter and insurance letter with a fake signature were presented to the college so the same company would be hired as an independent contractor.

She had also convinced to college to set up a petty cash fund for students in need from which she withdrew over $700.

The statement also says that programs had been set up, and students had enrolled, some of them moving to Grande Prairie for these programs, by the time it was discovered the government grant agreements were fake.

The college decided to fund the programs which already had enrollments so as not to hurt the students or its reputation, something that ended up costing it over $800,000.

Preliminary hearing dates set in attempted murder case

Alberta Justice says a preliminary hearing date has been set for two people charged after a shooting incident at Horse Lake in June.

The hearing for Stacey Horseman and Harley Ferguson is set for July 6, 2022.

Both are charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and other firearms counts.

Beaverlodge RCMP said at the time that on June 12, 2021, a man was shot during what police describe as “an interaction” and that two suspects fled from the home.

The man was treated in the hospital for what Mounties called “serious but not life-threatening injuries” and was later released.

Preliminary hearing date set in aggravated assault case

Alberta Justice says a date has been set for a preliminary hearing for a Sexsmith charged with aggravated assault after an incident in May of this year.

The hearing for Rheo Ouelette of Sexsmith is set for June 14, 2022.

He was charged after a woman sustained serious injures in an assault.

Grande Prairie RCMP said at the time a suspect was lying on the grass near a business located near 104 Street and 100 Avenue.

A female employee was assaulted when she asked the suspect to move so another employee could cut the grass.

Trial date set in drug arrest

Alberta Justice says trial dates have been set for a Grande Prairie man charged after a drug bust at a Clairmont hotel.

The trial for Tyrone Wiebe is scheduled for March 16 and 17 in Grande Prairie court.

Grande Prairie RCMP said at the time that on November 5, 2020, that they seized $3,000 cash, three grams of heroin, and 50 grams of what was suspected to be methamphetamine.

Mounties laid 10 charges against Wiebe, including resisting arrest, drug possession, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Police said he was already wanted on 27 outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.

by EverythingGP staff

Court update: jail time in college fraud case, prelim. dates set in attempted murder and aggravated assault, trial set in drug arrest

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