Bill Parsons, former Myles-Leger lawyer, sentenced to 3 years
Bill Parsons, a now-disbarred lawyer who represented the property development company Myles-Leger before it collapsed in a controversial bankruptcy, has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Parsons had entered a guilty plea to one count of fraud over $5,000 in St. John's Supreme Court in December.
While reading his decision Thursday, Justice Richard LeBlanc said Parsons abused his position of trust as a lawyer.
The Crown had asked that Parsons be sentenced to three years in prison, while the defence had said house arrest or 18 months in jail would suffice.
LeBlanc said a sentence less than what the Crown asked for would not be appropriate.
"This offence is just too serious," he said.
Parsons, 62, originally faced almost 40 fraud-related charges in connection to his time representing the company — which was his biggest client.
The founders of Myles-Leger — Randy and Bill Clarke — along with former comptroller Terrance Reardon were charged at the same time as Parsons.
While the charges against Randy Clarke were dropped in October, Bill Clarke and Reardon will have their case sent to a preliminary inquiry in March.
Parsons had illegally allowed trust money to be used by the once highly successful business.
From 2000 to 2004, the company received around $5 million from Parsons.
While the money was often repaid, $1.3 million was left unaccounted for.
The money, according to LeBlanc's sentencing decision, was "not diverted for [Parsons'] use and his positive antecedents."
In concluding his sentencing decision, LeBlanc told Parsons he felt it was necessary that he "pay for his actions."
While Parsons is disbarred in Newfoundland and Labrador, he hopes to practice law in Ontario.
