A former Kelowna resident, who was convicted of fraud and declared bankrupt, has been granted full parole despite opposition from the Crown and victims.
According to the Parole Board of Canada, 53-year-old David John Pearce was released on full parole on February 25th after serving two-thirds of his sentence. Pearce was sentenced to four years in prison in 2018 for defrauding investors of over $10 million through his company, Bridgecorp Canada Inc.
The decision to grant Pearce full parole was met with strong opposition from the Crown and victims of his fraud. They argued that Pearce had not shown remorse for his actions and that he still posed a risk to the community.
However, the Parole Board of Canada stated that Pearce had taken responsibility for his actions and had shown progress in his rehabilitation. They also noted that he had a strong support system in place and had secured employment upon his release.
Pearce’s lawyer, David Tarnow, stated that his client was “extremely remorseful” for his actions and was committed to making amends to his victims.
Pearce’s release on full parole comes with several conditions, including a ban on any involvement in financial matters and a requirement to report all financial transactions to his parole supervisor.
The Parole Board of Canada also stated that they will continue to monitor Pearce’s progress and that any violation of his parole conditions could result in his return to prison.
Pearce’s case has sparked debate about the effectiveness of the justice system in dealing with white-collar crimes. Some argue that the punishment for these crimes is not severe enough, while others believe that rehabilitation should be the focus.
For now, Pearce will continue to serve his sentence in the community, with the hope that he will successfully reintegrate into society and make amends for his actions.
