City’s mayor, wife and 1 other person charged with extortion
Keith Hobbs was an officer with the Thunder Bay police for 34 years before entering municipal politics in 2010
The mayor of Thunder Bay, Ont., was charged with extortion and obstructing justice Friday, almost two months after the northern Ontario city’s police chief was arrested in the same case.
Ontario Provincial Police said Keith Hobbs, 65, was charged in connection with an investigation into allegations of criminal wrongdoing that include a municipal official and a local resident.
Hobbs’ wife, Marisa Hobbs, 53, was also charged with extortion and obstructing justice. Police additionally charged Mary Voss, a 46-year-old Thunder Bay resident, with extortion, but officials would not say how she was connected to the other accused.
Staff Sgt. Carolle Dionne explained that the charges were linked to breach of trust and obstructing justice charges laid against Thunder Bay police chief J.P. Levesque in May.
She said Levesque was charged shortly after police had launched an investigation into the mayor. She added that it was Levesque who called for the investigation.
“The investigation started and as a result of that, (J.P.) Levesque was charged and then these three people were charged,” Dionne said.
The three accused are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 26.
Keith Hobbs was an officer with the Thunder Bay police for 34 years before he entered municipal politics in 2010.
His lawyers, Brian Greenspan and Naomi Lutes, said Hobbs and his wife firmly denied the allegations against them.
“These charges are unjustified and will be vigorously defended,” a statement from the lawyers said. “Mayor Hobbs and his wife are hopeful that the community will not prejudge these unproven charges and are grateful for the continued support of their many colleagues, family, and friends.”
City officials said they would not be commenting about the case because the matter is before the courts.
The development in the case comes as Thunder Bay grapples with tensions between its police force and members of the Indigenous community.