Crown withdraws criminal charges against Barrie men in alleged $500K pool company fraud case

Crown withdraws criminal charges against Barrie men in alleged $500K pool company fraud case.

The Barrie Crown Attorney confirmed it has dropped the criminal case against two Barrie men accused of defrauding at least 16 customers out of nearly $500,000.

Customers informed Crown is dropping charges in alleged $500K pool company fraud case

Citing evidentiary issues and constraints on an overburdened criminal justice system, Barrie Crown Attorney Elizabeth Stokes told the court the Crown is withdrawing the charges against Matthew Tayler, 48, and Jamie Galipeau, 49. They each faced allegations that they had defrauded customers of Sommerland Pools and Landscapes out of about $500,000 in deposits during the pandemic.

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“The last few months have been spent with the Crown undertaking an extensive review of the evidence in this case,” said Stokes. She noted the Crown consulted with police and participated in several judicial pre-trails with defence counsel before Justice Michelle Fuerst in the Superior Court of Justice.

“The Crown has considered the strength of the case, resource constraints on trial time in the Superior Court of Justice, and the fact that partial restitution has been made,” said Stokes. “The victims have been notified of the Crown’s decision in this matter and that is that we will be discontinuing the prosecution.”

The Crown added the decision was a “difficult determination to reach,” adding the prosecution “recognizes that there were significant financial and personal tolls on the complainants and as a result of this analysis undertaken by the Crown, I am asking for the charges to be withdrawn.”

Several families first came forward to CTV News in August 2023, saying they paid deposits to Sommerland Pools and work either stopped or never commenced. Many customers said they were out tens of thousands of dollars, and their backyards were left a mess by the company.

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When reached for comment at the time, Tayler and Galipeau denied any wrongdoing. Tayler said he was in charge of the company’s operations, while Galipeau was responsible for the company’s finances. Galipeau told CTV News he and Tayler had a falling out after communication broke down between them before any issues with customers surfaced.

Provincial police charged the men in May 2024. Trial dates had been previously set aside for October 2026.

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When offered an opportunity to comment on the result, Galipeau’s lawyer Brian Eberdt says had the case proceeded to trial Galipeau “would have defended himself vigorously” and “has always maintained that he is innocent with relation to this matter.”

Tayler’s defence lawyer, Peter Kott, did not wish to offer comment on the disposition.