THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay mayor Keith Hobbs and his wife Marisa have each been charged with extortion and obstructing justice.
The charges against the 65-year-old mayor and his 53-year-old wife were announced in a Friday morning news release by the OPP, with the provincial police statement that the charges stem from "an investigation of allegations of criminal wrongdoing that include a municipal official and a local resident."
Provincial police have also charged 46-year-old Mary Voss of Thunder Bay with one count of extortion.
Court documents allege the three last October attempted to "induce Alexander 'Sandy' Zaitzeff to purchase a house, by threats, accusations or menace of disclosing criminal allegations to the police, thereby committing extortion" for the purpose of providing Voss with a place to live.
Zatizeff, the prominent Thunder Bay lawyer, late last year was arrested and charged with sexual offences involving a minor, multiple counts of sexual assault, assault as well as multiple firearms-related offences.
As well, it is also alleged Hobbs and his wife between Dec. 21, 2016 and May 7 interfered in the RCMP's criminal investigation into the extortion claims.
City spokeswoman Karen Lewis said Hobbs while be taking a paid leave of absence for a to be determined length of time.
“The mayor is duly elected by the citizens of Thunder Bay," Lewis said. "Under the Municipal Act there is no mechanism for removal, suspension, any of those measures. The mayor remains the mayor. He is absent from his public duties.”
Under the Municipal Act, any member of council can request a leave of up to three months. At that point, it would be up to council to determine how an extended absence would proceed.
“Council could extend the leave, the vacancy policy could kick in and then council has options around how to proceed around the vacancy policy,” Lewis said. “Where we are today is the mayor is absent from his public duties.”
The absence will be filled by Coun. Trevor Giertuga serving as acting mayor for the rest of July with Coun. Linda Rydholm stepping in to the role for August. Coun. Joe Virdiramo will take over in September.
“We are aware we have issues within the city of Thunder Bay. We’re aware we have issues but we have a strong council and strong leadership that are working together to confront the issues we have,” Giertuga said.
“Let’s not lose sight we’re dealing with an issue (Friday) that is unrelated to city business or city issues.”
Thunder Bay Police Service chief J.P. Levesque in May had been charged by the OPP with obstructing justice and breach of trust for allegedly disclosing confidential information relating to the mayor last December. Those charges came at the culmination of a five-month investigation conducted as a result of an initial request by the RCMP.
An OPP spokesperson confirmed the charges against Levesque were linked to the investigation involving the mayor.
Hobbs, a retired member of the Thunder Bay Police Service and former police association president, was first elected mayor of Thunder Bay in 2010, ousting incumbent Lynn Peterson with 46 per cent of the vote. He was re-elected to a second term in 2014, defeating former mayor Ken Boschcoff with 38 per cent electoral support. Hobbs had previously stated earlier this year he would not be seeking a third term.
In January, Hobbs filed a notice of intended action of libel and slander against Zaitzeff in relation to a video posted to YouTube that showed the mayor and his wife among others in the company of the lawyer, who appeared to be intoxicated and was behaving in a bizarre manner. According to the legal filing, the video was allegedly recorded on Oct. 25, nearly a week after the alleged extortion attempt.
The three are scheduled to appear in a Thunder Bay courtroom on Sept. 26. The charges have not been proven in court.
Charges against Zaitzeff and Levesque remain before the courts. They have not been proven.
