Sentencing delayed for chief, other officials in TLE fraud charges

Sentencing for Poundmaker Cree Nation Chief Duane Antoine and seven other reserve officials for Treaty Land Entitlement fraud has been put off until January 2013. Sentencing was initially  scheduled for Sept. 18 in North Battleford Provincial Court but lawyer Grant Scharfstein,who represents six of the accused, asked that the hearing be postponed to allow his clients more time to raise money for restitution. Counsel for Chief Antoine was agreeable to the postponement. In April, Duane Antoine, Teddy Antoine, Norman Antoine, Burton Baptiste, and Hickson Weenie pleaded guilty to one count each of theft under $5,000. Bryan Tootoosis and Colin Favel, along with Irene Tootoosis, each pleaded guilty to two charges, theft under $5,000 and theft over $5,000. The ninth person accused, Victoria McMillan, pleaded not guilty to theft over $5,000 and fraud over $5,000. Her preliminary hearing will be held in late October in North Battleford Provincial Court. Duane Antoine was re-elected as chief in the May 18 election. Favel and Bryan Tootoosis were also re-elected.