Manitoba mayor says reputation stained, despite stay of criminal charges

Turnbull Lake Tourist Centre at Leaf Rapids. Photo from townofleafrapids.com.

LEAF RAPIDS, Manitoba—The Crown has stayed 28 fraud, forgery and mail theft charges against the mayor of a remote northern Manitoba town.

Geraldine Cockerill, who is 58, was arrested in December 2012 after a lengthy investigation by the RCMP at Leaf Rapids.

The charges related to Cockerill’s time as the postmaster in Leaf Rapids in 2009 and early 2010, prior to being elected mayor of the community.

She was fired when the allegations surfaced and also lost two other part-time jobs.

Crown lawyer David Gray says the charges were stayed for a technical reason, but he did not give details.

Cockerill has been allowed to stay on as mayor, but she says being charged has permanently damaged her reputation.