B.C. social worker accused of stealing from children pleads guilty
A former social worker accused of stealing money from children in B.C.'s care system has pleaded guilty to several charges, including fraud over $5,000.
Robert Riley Saunders also pleaded guilty Monday to individual counts of breach of trust and using a forged document during his time working for the Ministry of Children and Family Development in Kelowna.
He is scheduled to appear in court again in March for sentencing, the B.C. Prosecution Service said.
Saunders was accused of moving foster children away from stable homes so they would become eligible for financial benefits from the ministry, then taking that funding for himself.
Court documents also claimed a bachelors degree submitted by Saunders when he was hired in the 1990s was fake.
He was originally charged with 10 counts of fraud over $5,000 and one count of theft over $5,000, along with the breach of trust and forged documents charges.
Kukpi7 Judy Wilson with the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said a lot of Indigenous children and families were affected, and many of the young people became homeless.
“They were further exploited on the streets, and some lost their lives,” Wilson said. “This demonstrates as a failure of the justice system to actually serve out true justice for Indigenous people and the youth.”
Wilson said with the country about to observe the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, “this needs to be a different era."
“We need to change the narrative,” she said. “Our Indigenous children suffer, and are still suffering, because of the unaccountability, the inaction from government, and also in our court systems.”
Wilson added there need to be more extensive reference checks, along with monitoring and evaluation to help prevent future situations exploiting young people in care, including helping them understand their own rights.
“I hate seeing this happen to any families,” she said. “My heart goes out to those families that have been affected, those youth.”
She also said the alleged victims should be followed up on, to check on their well-being.
“They’re struggling right now,” Wilson said.
The provincial government previously settled a class action lawsuit with more than 100 of Saunders' alleged victims, paying them a base amount of $25,000, with additional payments available to those who are Indigenous, had their education delayed, or experienced homelessness, psychological harm, sexual exploitation or injury.
Saunders never filed a response to the lawsuit.
He was arrested in Alberta in December 2020 following what authorities described as a "lengthy and laborious investigation," which began in 2018 and covered the approximately 22 years he had been employed with the ministry.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.