An appeal by a former priest in Tecumseh convicted of stealing from his church has been dismissed.
Rev. Robert Couture was found guilty of theft in December of 2015. Couture was accused of stealing up to $230,000 from Ste. Anne’s Parish and was sentenced to 10 months in jail in October of 2016. He was also ordered to pay back $75,000.
The Ontario Court of Appeal decided on Friday to dismiss Couture's appeal. The appeal court documents showed that Couture wanted the restitution to be a civil matter because there weren't enough facts to support it.
"The appellant’s crime involved breach of trust. The appellant used his position as a priest to misappropriate donations intended for the church for his own benefit," stated the court of appeal in its decision. "A sentence that included a $75,000 restitution order properly reflected the need for denunciation and deterrence."
The court added that over the course of approximately eight years, Couture stole at least $75,000 and paid $140,000 directly into his personal bank account or to pay his personal visa account.
"There was more than ample evidence to support the trial judge’s findings based on the record before him," the court said. "Resort to a civil proceeding was unnecessary."
The court of appeal also agreed with the trial judge's decision to have Couture pay the $75,000 restitution.
"The trial judge considered the appellant’s ability to pay but, referencing the breach of trust, he correctly noted that this was not a determinative factor," said the appeal court. "He concluded that it was likely the appellant had capital assets that could be liquidated. We see no reason to interfere."
