A former B.C. lawyer who used his clients' money to pay gambling debts faces three to five years in prison for his crimes.
The Crown revealed its recommendation during sentencing submissions Wednesday in the case against Steven Neil Mansfield, who is charged with multiple counts of fraud and theft. Mansfield has already pleaded guilty to four counts of theft over $5,000.
Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Donna Senniw listened to testimony from some of Mansfield's victims this week during sentencing submissions.
“I am homeless. I have lost my self-esteem and confidence,” retired dentist Dr. Harold Bergman told the court.
Prosecutor Andrew McLean told Snniw that Bergman gave Manfield $350,000 to invest in a cannabis venture. While the business venture proved successful, Mansfield never invested Bergman’s money. Instead, he used it to pay off gambling debts.
On the stand, Mansfield apologized to Bergman and asked for forgiveness.
"I’m very sorry. Everything I’ve done to you is brutal. I’m doing everything I can to make it right.”
Mansfield also stole $200,000 from a trust account for a client’s child support payment. In 2016,
Cynthia Pellegrin gave Mansfield over $1 million from the sale of her house, intending to use the money to discharge her mortgages. But instead, Mansfield siphoned off more than $800,000 for gambling.
Mansfield, who has been disbarred twice from the Law Society of British Columbia, claims he can now control his gambling addiction. Manfield said he has not gambled since these incidents after doing research and receiving counseling. “I realized I could control the urge finally. I never gambled again. I conquered it.”
One victim received compensation for her loss from the law society indemnity fund. Other victims, however, were not eligible for similar compensation because Mansfield had already lost his license to practice law at the time of their thefts.
A sentencing schedule was unavailable at the time of publication.
