A former B.C. Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction employee has pleaded guilty to breach of trust and theft of public funds and now awaits sentencing in B.C. Provincial Court.
Judge Kathryn Denhoff heard Ryan Wylie, 49, had been an exemplary employee until personal issues got the better of him and he began issuing crisis funds to a man with whom he was in an abusive, drug-using relationship.
“The accused abused the trust that was placed in him and took money for his own benefit,” Crown prosecutor Ian Hay said.
A mitigating factor in the case was that Wylie admitted to the employer that he had committed the offences. That sparked an investigation resulting in the charges.
Wylie had been in the employment and assistance section of the ministry and had authorization to issue payments to clients, Hay said.
The situation involved five transactions between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2019, with funds being issued to Brandon Alstad — a man noted as a client in ministry files.
“It wasn’t a single mistake; it was a pattern of behaviour,” Hay said. “The ministry lost a valuable asset and Mr. Wylie lost his job.”
Message 'needs to be sent,' says prosecutor
Wylie has sought help for his substance use and remains abstinent, Hay said.
The prosecutor suggested a short-term conditional sentence order but opposed a discharge.
“It is not in the public interest to give him a discharge,” Hay said, noting a message needed to be sent that such actions are unacceptable.
Defence lawyer Paul Ferguson said Wyle was “over-ridden with guilt.”
“His employment prospects have been severely kneecapped by this,” Ferguson said.
Almost $3,000 handed out as 'crisis funds' without oversight
Wylie authorized the issuing of $2,871 in funds to "the client" — something he said he wants to make restitution for.
The payments were noted in files as crisis funds for things such as clothing, rent and moving expenses.
Hay said Wylie was authorized to approve payments without oversight.
In an April 2019 instance, Wylie authorized a $75 payment to “the client” who soon after sent $375 to Wylie by electronic transfer, Hay said.
That same year, $250 was issued for the purchase of new cookware. When the “the client” said he had no rent money due to a gambling problem, Wylie issued him a $375 payment.
Alstad and Wylie took a trip to Victoria the day after one cheque was issued, and in another case, “the client” had claimed they were being evicted and needed moving expenses.
The two lived together, Denhoff heard.
Wylie could receive a maximum sentence of five years.
Alstad is facing separate legal proceedings in connection with the case, including a charge of fraud over $5,000. He is due in court Sept. 21 for sentencing, court records show.
