THUNDER BAY - A Thunder Bay man who pleaded guilty to several counts of fraud may file a motion to have those pleas stricken.
Richard Belbas, 40, appeared in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Monday for a scheduled sentencing hearing. However, the matter was adjourned to Nov. 26 at the request of attorney Richard Garrett, speaking on behalf of Francis Thatcher who was recently retained as counsel by Belbas.
Garrett told the court that Thatcher needs time to review disclosure in the case that he received from the Crown last week and he added that counsel is considering filing a motion to strike several guilty pleas that were entered into the court by Belbas under his previous attorney, Chris Watkins, who has since had his license to practice law temporarily suspended.
Watkins was officially removed as counsel on Monday.
Belbas is facing more than 40 charges and he has pleaded guilty to 26, including 21 charges of fraud. In January 2018, Belbas was charged with 11 fraud offences, and in May 2018 he pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of fraud under $5,000, and three counts of breach of probation. In October 2017, he pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud over $5,000, five counts of fraud under $5,000, and two counts of breach of probation.
There are four additional charges of which Belbas has not entered a plea, including one count of fraud over $5,000, one count of fraud under $5,000, and two counts of breach of probation.
Crown attorney, Andrew Sadler, said the case is complicated and involves a great deal of disclosure, but he added that the Crown has tried to move this matter forward as expeditiously as possible.
“I trust the new counsel will do so as well,” Sadler said.
Belbas has already served time behind bars after pleading guilty in 2015 to charges of fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000 and breach of probation. He was sentenced to 165 days in jail and three years of probation.
The latest set of charges laid in January are the result of complaints received since 2016 and involves numerous complainants having paid more than $55,000 for services or products that were not delivered.
It is alleged that Belbas was hired and pre-paid for home renovation projects that he did not complete. Several complainants detailed having paid Belbas for work and materials that were never completed and that he became elusive to contact and did not return any of the money.
