The case against the former treasurer of the Cannington Figure Skating Club took a surprise turn Monday, as Cornelia Hart entered a guilty plea in Oshawa court.
Ms. Hart pleaded guilty to one count of theft over $5,000. She'll be sentenced Nov. 3.
While jury selection in a scheduled two-week trial was supposed to get underway Monday, Ms. Hart decided late last week to change her plea to guilty.
Before her case was called to order Monday, Ms. Hart declined to comment on the guilty plea.
She did, however, say that her legal troubles have taken a toll on her.
"The last few years have been hell," she said.
An agreed statement of facts was the only item entered into evidence at the hearing, though it was not read aloud or provided to the Citizen before deadline.
Ms. Hart was charged in August, 2006 with theft over $5,000 and fraud over $5,000. The latter charge was withdrawn by the Crown at Monday's hearing. The same charges were filed against Ms. Hart's estranged husband, Richard Hart, but were withdrawn at a pre-trial hearing in October of 2007.
Ms. Hart held the volunteer position of treasurer from September 1999 until May 2002, the period of time in which police and club officials claim that more than $40,000 was misappropriated and the accounting records of the organization deteriorated.
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