A former mayor of Woolwich Township has been found guilty of breach of trust, but not fraud, in connection with thousands of dollars’ worth of double-billed expenses.
Todd Cowan was charged with those offences in February 2015, following an OPP investigation into about $2,700 worth of expenses.
Cowan admitted the double-billing from the outset, but claimed it was due to sloppy bookkeeping on his part rather than any intentional malice.
In two cases, court heard, Cowan billed governments for meals he said he had with other local politicians. The politicians in question testified that the meals never took place.
Cowan, who was Woolwich’s mayor from 2010 until 2014, will be sentenced on July 18.
Under the Criminal Code, the maximum penalty for a breach of trust conviction is 14 years in prison. There is no minimum penalty.
