No jail time for former B.C. clerk Craig James guilty of fraud, breach of trust

The former clerk of the B.C. Legislature will not be doing jail time.

Craig James was sentenced Friday morning after being found guilty of fraud and breach of trust earlier this year. He has been given a conditional sentence of three months of incarceration, which will be served in the community.

He will be on house arrest for the first month and then will have a curfew for the next two.

James has also been ordered to pay $2,000 in fines.

The former B.C. clerk was found guilty of fraud under $5,000 and breach of trust in May, related to inappropriate personal expenses which included clothing items. The judge found James breached the standard of conduct expected of a public official.

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Related articles:

• Former B.C. legislature clerk found guilty of fraud, breach of trust

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James was cleared on three other counts, including one related to a $258,000 retirement benefit and the use of wood splitter which he had said was bought for emergencies at the legislature.

James was suspended with pay in November 2018, along with then-Sergeant-at-Arms Gary Lenz, following allegations of misspending that prompted an RCMP escort out of the capital building.

He resigned the following year during an investigation into his conduct and reached a non-monetary settlement.

While James was found to have engaged in misconduct according to the findings of retired judge Beverley McLachlin, Lenz was cleared.

The BC Prosecution Service said two special prosecutors also declined charges against Lenz, who has maintained he was innocent in connection to the allegations.

With files from Rebecca Johnstone, Robyn Crawford, David Nadalini, Claire Fenton, Dean Recksiedler, and Denise Wong