The sentencing hearing for Jeffrey Holmes, who has admitted stealing $434,644 in public funds from Algoma Public Health, won't take place for nearly four months.
At the reqest of the Crown and defence Monday, Ontario Court Justice Melanie Dunn adjourned the hearing until Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.
Holmes, APH'S former chief operating officer, pleaded guilty April 23 to theft over $5,000 and breach of trust and sentencing was put over until today so that a pre-sentence report could be prepared.
Defence counsel Wayne Chorney told the judge he and prosecutor Nancy Komsa were seeking a new date because the pre-sentence report had just been received late last week.
He said he hasn't had an opportunity to review the report with his client, who wasn't in court Monday, or to meet with Komsa because of their timetables.
In April, Chorney indicated that the lawyers will have a joint position on sentence that they will argue Dunn should accept.
At that time, the judge heard the offences occurred between Oct.1, 2006 and Oct. 1, 2013.
Komsa said Holmes, a chartered accountant who had been APH's chief financial officer since 2003, had control of money coming in and out of the organization.
An anonymous letter to former board chair Marchy Bruni spurred an investigation that resulted in the charges, the assistant Crown attorney said.
The letter contained information about questionable credit card expenses.
KPMG was asked to conduct an audit, which revealed $434,644 had been spent for matters not related to Holmes' employment or any public health programs, she said.
As a result, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service initiated an investigation with the Ontario Provincial Police Anti Rackets Branch Corruption Unit in August 2013.
Holmes, who had left APH in July, was charged Oct.1 of that year.
A well-known local jazz pianist, Holmes previously served as chief financial officer and vice president of Sault Area Hospital.
Previous SooToday coverage of this story:
Former health unit exec admits massive theft (update)