A former executive director of Violence Prevention Avalon East is facing multiple criminal charges after police alleged she defrauded the non-profit of more than $135,000. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the accused is scheduled to appear in provincial court in St. John’s in May.

A former executive director of a Newfoundland and Labrador violence prevention organization is facing a series of criminal charges after police alleged she defrauded the non-profit of more than $135,000 during her time in the role.

According to CBC News, Valerie Barter, 50, has been charged in connection with her former position at Violence Prevention Avalon East. Court documents show the charges include fraud over $5,000, forgery, using or possessing a forged document, uttering a forged document, false pretence, mischief involving computer data, and breach of trust.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said its Economic Crime Unit conducted a lengthy investigation and concluded Barter had committed acts of fraud exceeding $135,000. Police allege the conduct took place between April 2021 and December 2023. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Barter is scheduled to make a first appearance in provincial court in St. John’s in May.

In a statement to CBC News, the board of Violence Prevention Avalon East said it acted immediately after identifying irregularities in the organization’s financial records. The board said it retained legal counsel, documented transactions, and co-operated with law enforcement, auditors, and grant funders. It also said Barter was removed from her position after the issues were discovered in late 2023.

CBC reported that Barter is now listed as a project manager with the Bell Island Support Network, a not-for-profit organization focused on social and health issues related to addictions and recovery. Her LinkedIn profile reportedly indicates she began that role in November 2024.

The report also noted Barter had previously been charged in December 2024 in relation to alleged fraudulent activity involving Violence Prevention Avalon East, including fraud under $5,000, forgery, and uttering a forged document. CBC said it was not immediately clear what became of those earlier charges.

Through her lawyer, Barter declined comment. Counsel told CBC that the new charges had only recently been laid and that disclosure had not yet been provided, adding that Barter is presumed innocent.

The case is the latest example of alleged financial misconduct involving a non-profit organization, and it raises fresh concerns about internal controls, oversight, and accountability in organizations that rely on public confidence and funding support.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.