Man who was once B.C.'s most senior officer of the legislature sentenced in spending scandal

A man at the centre of one of the biggest spending scandals in the history of politics in British Columbia has been sentenced.

A man at the centre of one of the biggest spending scandals in the history of politics in British Columbia has been sentenced.

Craig James, the former clerk of the legislature, learned his fate in a Vancouver courtroom Friday morning.

He was given a conditional sentence of three months of incarceration, which will be served in the community instead of in jail.

James was told he'll be on house arrest for the first month. He'll have to report by phone to his conditional sentence supervisor by Monday, and during that month, he must be on his property 24 hours a day, with a few exceptions.

James will be allowed to leave with permission only for "highly unusual circumstances," medical emergencies or very important medical appointments for himself, his spouse or his daughter.

He may be allowed leave Sunday mornings to attend mass, but those details were not arranged in court. His supervisor will make that decision.

James will also be allowed to leave for a single, two-hour period once a week for grocery shopping, with permission from his supervisor, as his wife is undergoing surgery this week and won't be able to drive.