A local contractor charged with numerous counts of fraud will return to court with new representation on Feb. 27.
Scott Eisemann, a Brechin-based contractor, allegedly collected more than $300,000 in payment from a variety of clients in the Simcoe County and Muskoka area — dating back to 2017 — and either failed to complete the projects or never delivered the promised work.
Although Eisemann pled guilty to seven of 13 charges at the Orillia Courthouse on Jan. 11, with sentencing scheduled for Feb. 8, he told the court last week there were “so many issues” with the previous statement of facts and explained “perception issues” with the facts contributed to his previous guilty plea.
On that same day, on Feb. 8, Eisemann’s defence lawyer, Emily Dyer, notified the court she will no longer represent, asking to be removed from the case “due to a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship." She told the court it would be “impossible” for her to proceed.
As opposed to moving forward with sentencing, Eisemann expressed interest in having his previous guilty plea struck from the record — which Crown attorney Neil Riley spoke strongly against — and returning to court with new legal representation.
Justice A.M. Nichols did not provide a ruling on Eisemann’s request to strike the plea at court last week, instead scheduling another court appearance for Eisemann, with new representation, for Feb. 13.
On Tuesday, Eisemann told the court he has yet to meet with his new lawyer, anticipating he will be able to do so next week. As a result, Nichols scheduled his next appearance for Feb. 27.
During proceedings, Riley reiterated that Eisemann’s hope to strike his previous guilty plea “will be opposed by the Crown.”
