Dane Skinner (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Sheldon Spackman

Adjourned To November

Trial delayed for Sylvan Lake man accused in $2.6 M fraud case

Sep 7, 2021 | 2:45 PM

A Crown request to adjourn the trial for a Sylvan Lake man accused of defrauding over $2.6 million from investors who thought they were buying into a “revolutionary fracking product” has been granted by a judge.

Justice Marilyn D. Slawinsky granted the request from Crown prosecutor Colin Schulhauser, of Calgary, on behalf of Peter McKenzie, in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench Tuesday.

As a result, the jury trial for 56-year-old Dane Michael Skinner, which was scheduled for Sept. 8-Oct. 1, has now been postponed.

The delay means a possible trial for Skinner would take place far beyond his ‘Jordan date’ of Jan. 24, 2021.

A 2016 decision from the Supreme Court of Canada – often called the ‘Jordan decision’ – stipulates that a trial must begin within 30 months of charges being laid in Court of Queen’s Bench cases.

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Skinner was arrested July 25, 2018 and faces counts of fraud over $5,000 and laundering proceeds of crime. He was arrested after an investigation by Blackfalds RCMP and Red Deer Financial Crimes Unit that began in 2013.

According to police, the alleged offences took place between Dec. 5, 2007 and Feb. 28, 2013 in Lacombe and are said to involve two numbered companies (1518869 Alberta Ltd. and 1367158 Alberta Ltd.), as well as N.E.X.T. Legacy Technologies Ltd.

Mounties allege Skinner misrepresented and advertised a “revolutionary fracking product” which resulted in lucrative financial gains.

As a result, numerous victims were enticed to invest in the company, with losses to those investors reported to be over $2.6 million.

Court learned on Tuesday that Skinner has now lost his hearing and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. He did not have legal representation on Tuesday.

The case returns to court Nov. 1 to either set new trial dates or determine whether the matter will even proceed.

Related: Charter applications filed for Sylvan Lake man accused in $2.6M fraud case