The former Archdeacon of Brandon, the Ven. Noah Njegovan (32), has entered a not guilty plea before the Brandon Court of Queen’s Bench in Manitoba. On 28 Aug 2015, the preliminary stages of the former’s archdeacon’s trial for fraud and theft began, with Njegovan agreeing to have his case heard by a judge alone. Appointed archdeacon by his father, the Bishop of Brandon, the Rt. Rev. James Njegovan, Noah Njegovan is alleged to have defrauded the diocese by incurring $90,175 in credit card cash advances, $46,660 in meal and bar bills, $13,277 spent at hotels, $8,107 spent on fuel and travel and $6,791 for three trips to Las Vegas between January 2010 and September 2012. A further $31,488 was spent on purchases such as clothing and massages, the statement of claim alleges. An audit of diocesan finances in 2013 uncovered the thefts. On Palm Sunday 2015, Bishop Njegovan announced that he was retiring in July after 13-and-a-half-years of episcopal service. “For some this announcement may come as a surprise,” he said in his pastoral letter to the diocese. But, he added “as much as I may regret it—it will not be entirely unwelcome news.” The bishop told the Anglican Journal there was no connection between his decision to retire and the diocesan lawsuit currently underway involving his son, Noah Njegovan. The Diocese filed a $350,000 civil lawsuit against the former archdeacon, claiming damages of $250,000 for fraud, breach of trust, breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation, and $100,000 for punitive and exemplary damages.
