Bret Dobbin’s Sentence Upgraded to Jail Term After Appeal
Bret Allan Dobbin, a Winnipeg man who fraudulently took over $500,000 from an elderly widow, has had his sentence upgraded from house arrest to an 18-month jail term following an appeal by the Manitoba Securities Commission. The original sentence of 15 months of house arrest was deemed “demonstrably unfit” by Associate Chief Justice Shane Perlmutter of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench.
Dobbin, who pleaded guilty to 50 offences committed between 2016 and 2017, exploited the trust of an 80-year-old woman he knew through their church. The elderly victim, who had inherited the money following her husband’s death, was duped into giving Dobbin the funds under false pretenses. Dobbin promised to invest her money in mortgages for other individuals, but instead used the money for personal gain.
The judge highlighted the special need to protect vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly, from financial exploitation. Despite complying with house arrest conditions, the court found that Dobbin’s rehabilitation efforts were insufficient, and the original sentence failed to adequately consider the severity of his crimes or the impact on the victim.
The woman, who trusted Dobbin because of their church connection, had entrusted him with a significant amount of money. She later revoked his power of attorney and will, but Dobbin continued to make financial demands. A restitution order will determine the final amount Dobbin owes the victim, which is expected to be between $200,000 and $400,000.
This appeal decision emphasizes the deterrence and denunciation principles of sentencing, with the court agreeing that the initial sentence was too lenient given the gravity of the offences.
