Former manager of Winnipeg Jewish Theatre admits stealing $65K from theatre

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This article was published 02/09/2015 (3156 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The former general manager and artistic director of the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre has admitted to stealing $65,000 from the non-profit organization.

Michael Nathanson, 49, was given a one-year conditional sentence after pleading guilty last week to uttering forged documents. He also presented a cheque in court for full repayment of the missing money.

“He has lived a web of lies and deception,” defence lawyer Richard Wolson told court of his client, who has been a well-known figure in the local artistic community for decades.

Nathanson also made a tearful apology to the theatre, his former co-workers and his family and friends for the damage he’s caused.

“I made egregious errors in judgment and badly hurt people who trusted me,” Nathanson said.

Nathanson was arrested at the Emerson border crossing in March on the strength of a warrant that had been issued weeks earlier. He had fled the country after being fired last year when his criminal conduct was finally discovered by theatre officials and then reported to police.

Crown attorney Peter Edgett described how Nathanson began working for the theatre in 2007 and had authority over all financial matters, including signing cheques, payroll and financial statements. Over the course of nearly seven years, he began using theater credit and debit cards to make personal purchases which he then covered up in financial statements. He also made bank withdrawals which were also hidden.

“He uttered these forged financial statements at each annual board meeting from 2007 to 2013,” Edgett told court. Nathanson also convinced board members that the documents had been audited. No such analysis had occurred.

Nathanson was exposed last year when several cheques to actors began to bounce and he became dodgy when pressed for answers about their financial situation.

“He offered up numerous excuses as to why he couldn’t meet (to discuss the matter further),” said Edgett. Nathanson was ultimately fired before heading to Texas, where his two sisters reside.

“He was living beyond his means,” said Edgett.

Nathanson blames a variety of factors for his conduct – a decade of depression, the collapse of his marriage and related financial issues.

“It’s surreal that he’s here,” said Wolson of his otherwise well-respected client with no prior record. Nathanson is now working for his sister’s U.S.-based greeting card company while attempting to get his life back on track through various counselling and 12-step programs, court was told.

“He’s trying to give back to the community and help others,” said Wolson. “He is absolutely remorseful. He wakes up to this and goes to bed with it every day.”

Following the discovery of Nathanson’s deceit, the theatre shut down for six-months citing financial reasons. A new artistic director, Ari Weinberg, was named earlier this year.

“It had a significant impact on them,” Edgett told court last week. He cited the dedication of several core members for getting the group back on track.

Nathanson’s conditional sentence includes a nightly curfew of 9 p.m. and an order to abstain from all drugs and alcohol.

“I hope that through my actions, in time, I can earn forgiveness of those I’ve hurt,” Nathanson told court.

www.mikeoncrime.com

-with files from Kevin Prokosh