Man fined for passing counterfeit bill

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on May 7, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man who tried to spend poorly-made counterfeit money has been fined 10 times the amount of the phony bill.
On Aug. 12 of last year Donald Wallace Eldridge attempted to spend a fake $50 bill at a Little Caesars restaurant in the city. The obviously counterfeit bill was made of paper instead of plastic, was dull in colour and was not a uniform size.
Eldridge, 29, pleaded guilty this week in Lethbridge provincial court to one count of uttering counterfeit money, and was fined $500. The Crown noted that the fine is relatively lenient, especially for someone with a criminal record, which includes convictions for theft and possession of stolen property. However, the Crown said Eldridge offered a guilty plea to the unsophisticated attempt to spend fake money, and because he was unsuccessful, the subsequent harm was minimal.
Lethbridge lawyer Justin Dean told court his client acknowledges his “wrongdoing,” and is currently enrolled in a program to address substance abuse issues and help him with his rehabilitation.

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