Advertisement

Lee Escott pleads not guilty to fraud, forgery charges

Lee Escott, a former national bowling champion, has pleaded not guilty to fraud and forgery charges.

​Escott's lawyer, Rosellen Sullivan, entered the plea on his behalf Monday morning at provincial court in St. John's.

Escott, 32, was charged with eight counts of forgery in August, for cheques that were allegedly written last spring.

In October, another charge was added to the list, for allegedly defrauding the Newfoundland and Labrador 5 Pin Bowlers' Association (NL5PBA) of more than $5,000.

Escott was elected as president of the association in 2013, but was officially removed from his post in September 2014.

The case is due back in provincial court on March 2.

Meanwhile, Escott is also entangled in a civil suit, that alleges he borrowed more than $800,000 from another bowler, and never repaid it.

Escott is contesting that lawsuit, but has previously acknowledged in court that he lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on sports gambling, through Atlantic Lotto's Pro-Line.