THUNDER BAY -- A local woman has been handed an intermittent 90-day sentence for theft, fraud and falsifying documents.
Krystyna Dolasinski was the Port Arthur Polish Hall office manager from 2000 until September 2006. In May, she was found guilty of theft and fraud under $5,000 and falsifying documents.
The charge of fraud under $5,000 was later stayed.
Justice Doug Shaw sentenced her to 90 days in jail, to be served during weekdays so that she can continue working and supporting her family, in Superior Court Wednesday morning.
Her attorney Chris Watkins said Dolasinski was grateful for the fair sentence.
“It’s understandable. This is a matter that involves breach of trust,” Watkins said outside of court.
He said Dolasinski has been going through a wide range of emotions.
“I think part of it is relief, part of it is that she’s done something wrong,” he said.
Over the course of the trial, the course heard that Dolasinski, a single mother of three, has been a stellar employee at her current job and has gone through a lot in her life. Watkins said he’s glad that Shaw has given her another chance.
“People are given the opportunity to make changes in our society,” he said.
Dolasinski had originally been charged with theft over $5,000 and fraud over $5,000, in addition to the falsifying documents charge.
According to testimony heard during the four-week trial, bank statements produced from January to September 2005 showed the hall’s bank accounts go from $46,000 to $0, with many of the withdrawals listed as transfers to the hall’s operating account.
Throughout the trial Dolasinski’s lawyer Chris Watkins maintained the possibility that someone else was responsible for the majority of the fraud and the jury agreed.
