Alena Marie Pastuch, a Regina woman convicted of stealing millions from private and corporate investors, has formally abandoned her attempt to secure bail while appealing her conviction and sentence. This development marks the latest chapter in a lengthy legal saga that has spanned over a decade.
Withdrawal of Bail Application
Defence lawyer Christina Skibinsky officially notified the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal and Crown prosecutors on March 23 that Pastuch would not pursue a bail hearing at this time. The 60-year-old Regina resident had previously sought to remain free while challenging her conviction through the appeal process.
Substantial Financial Crimes
Pastuch pleaded guilty to stealing $4,940,218 from investors between April 1, 2006 and January 1, 2013. The sophisticated financial scheme targeted both private individuals and corporate entities, resulting in one of Regina's most significant theft cases in recent years.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
In January of this year, Pastuch received a sentence of three years and six months in prison. After receiving credit for time already served, she faces two years of remaining incarceration. Her recent imprisonment followed extensive legal proceedings that began with initial charges filed in 2014.
Notably, Pastuch had no previous criminal record before these proceedings. She was originally convicted of fraud following a 2019 trial during which she represented herself after parting ways with multiple lawyers in the lead-up to court proceedings.
Appeal and Retrial
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal ordered a new trial after determining Pastuch should not have been required to represent herself. Before her second trial commenced, she entered a guilty plea to theft over $5,000. However, complications arose when she fired her lawyer Chris Murphy after a joint sentencing submission had been made but before formal sentencing occurred.
Legal Maneuvers and Final Sentencing
Assisted by lawyer Christina Skibinsky, Pastuch explored various legal motions before ultimately attempting to have recent proceedings declared a "nullity." This motion was dismissed by the court, and she was sentenced according to the terms originally agreed upon in the joint submission.
Pastuch was ordered to surrender herself to begin her sentence on January 23, which she complied with after unsuccessfully attempting to persuade Saskatchewan's top judge to allow her to remain on bail pending appeal. Chief Justice Robert Leurer of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal denied her initial request for bail continuation.
Continued Appeal Efforts
Despite abandoning her bail application, Pastuch continues to pursue appeals of both her conviction and sentence. Her legal team indicated she would maintain efforts toward achieving bail, though she has evidently reconsidered this approach for the time being.
The case represents a complex intersection of financial crime, self-representation issues, and appellate procedures within Saskatchewan's justice system. Legal observers note the unusual circumstances surrounding Pastuch's multiple lawyer changes and her attempt to have proceedings nullified after pleading guilty.
This Regina-based financial crime case continues to unfold as Pastuch pursues her appeal while serving her prison sentence for the multi-million dollar theft scheme.
