BONNYVILLE - Damon Ollenberger, the 34-year-old Edmonton man charged with identity fraud after attempting to open a second bank account under a false name, was sentenced on Tuesday.
Ollenberger appeared via CCTV from the Edmonton Remand Centre in the Bonnyville Provincial Courthouse on March 3 and pleaded guilty to obtaining or possessing identification belonging to another person, forgery, and impersonating another person to gain advantage.
He was senteneced to 150 days in jail after RCMP were contacted on Feb. 26 by an employee of the Lakeland Credit Union claiming a man was at the Bonnyville location was attempting to open an account under a false name.
When officers arrived, the employee provided documents and identification the man had been trying to use to open a bank account, including a driver's license, birth certificate, and a document with a social insurance number and other private information.
Staff recognized the man, who later identified himself as Ollenberger, after he opened a bank account at their Cold Lake branch under a different name.
Police reviewed the documents and confirmed they were fake.
Ollenberger was arrested, and during a search of his belongings, RCMP located a government cheque made out to the person listed on the documents.
Ollenberger provided a statement to police, explaining how he wasn't the person named in the IDs and that he had made the cheque himself at home after purchasing the documents and identification.
He told police he had opened a fake account in Cold Lake and was intending to do the same in Bonnyville.
St. Paul chief Crown prosecutor Jordan Kerr told the court they felt four to six months in prison was a fit and proper sentence for Ollenberger, who has several prior convictions for similar offences.
Ollenberger's criminal record, Kerr stated, lists seven prior identity fraud or stolen identity and 16 property-related convictions, including a 90-day sentence in 2017 for similar offences.
"The record is highly concerning," expressed Kerr, adding based on the pattern of behaviour, it's clear that prior sentencing hasn't deterred Ollenberger from reoffending.
He said fraud isn't a spontaneous act and takes deliberate planning.
According to acting duty counsel, Hart Spencer, Ollenberger was hoping to serve his sentence intermittently at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre.
With a baby on the way, Ollenberger wanted to return to work in order to support his growing family.
"I have no excuse for what I did, all I guarantee you if you give me a chance is you won't see me in this predicament again," Ollenberger said to Honourable Judge Kathleen Williams during sentencing.
Despite his claims he would be willing spend weekends serving his sentence, Williams denied his request based on his prior criminal record and the charges before the court.
Ollenberger explained how he has struggled with drug addiction since the age of 11, and has finally found the help he needs to get himself on the right track.
While she acknowledged his steps towards sobriety, Williams was concerned what Ollenbger's actions, which based on the accused's statements were made on a sober mind, meant for his chances of reoffending.
Williams sentenced Ollenberger to 150 days in jail. After serving 11, he had 139 remaining as of his court appearance.
She noted, his actions were a "deliberate sequence of events where there was planning and foresight," and had it not been for the bank employee's quick thinking, who knows the impact the offence would have had on the victim.
