A jury will decide whether a Foothills School Division board trustee is guilty of fraud accusations involving her work with a Calgary lacrosse organization.
Laurie Copland is charged with fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000.
A trial date was set in Calgary Court on Jan. 13 where Copland’s attorney Chris Archer elected to proceed to trial by judge and jury in Calgary for five days on June 26. A pre-trial conference was set for Feb. 27.
According to Copland, the charges stem from her time as a board member and president with the Calgary Winter Lacrosse League and in a paid position with the group.
She said she was charged after an Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) investigation initiated after she stepped down from her position with the organization’s board.
Copland said she plans to defend herself against the allegations and clear her name.
“I didn’t do anything wrong except trust the wrong people and that was it,” she said in an interview.
Copland represented Okotoks on the Foothills School Division board of trustees before she was given a leave of absence from her position in the fall.
The Foothills School Division declined to comment, but confirmed the matter does not involve Copland’s duties on the board of trustees.
If acquitted, Copland said she looks to return to her position on the school board.
Calgary Winter Lacrosse declined to comment on the matter, while the AGLC said it does not comment on cases in front of the courts.
