LETHBRIDGE — There will be no trial for the owners of a southern Alberta funeral home who were accused of fraud and offering an indignity to a dead body.
Ralph and Faith Zentner of the Cornerstone Funeral Home in Lethbridge faced nine charges in total.
But Ralph Zentner pleaded guilty in provincial court Wednesday to one count of fraud. The Crown dropped the other eight charges.
The couple, both in their 40s, was accused of overcharging customers for cremation caskets and reusing rental coffins without replacing the protective liners.
It was also alleged that they cut off a deceased’s finger to remove a ring.
Zentner apologized in court, but would not speak to the media. He said in a written statement that the allegations were false, but he chose to take responsibility and change the funeral home’s practices.
Charges against his wife were withdrawn for lack of evidence.
Part of the fraud allegations related to using money from Alberta Social Services to pay for funerals not specifically approved by the provincial government.
Zentner’s lawyer, Balfour Der, said there was no intent to deceive anyone.
“In some respects the case is very close to a breach of contract,” Der said outside court. “He’s knowingly doing these things, but at the time it’s not clear at all to him that he’s doing something illegal.
“And when it’s brought to his attention, he’s forthright with it and saying, ’Yeah, if that’s illegal, I broke the law and I’ll plead guilty.”’
The Crown is recommending a jail sentence of nine months, but Der wants a conditional discharge.
“I’m really trying to save him from having a criminal record, because if he gets a record I’ll bet that he may have great difficulty working in this industry,” he said.
The matter has been adjourned to Feb. 7 to set a date for sentencing.
(CJOC)