THUNDER BAY – The city’s suspended police chief is scheduled for a September court date after a brief appearance on Thursday.
J.P. Levesque, who is facing charges of obstructing justice and breach of trust, did not appear in person at the Thunder Bay Courthouse but was instead represented by local lawyer Neil McCartney, who was acting as agent on behalf of Toronto lawyer Fredrick Schumann.
The 53-year-old was charged by the OPP in May following a five-month investigation launched by the provincial police at the request of the RCMP that the Thunder Bay Police Service chief disclosed confidential information relating to Thunder Bay mayor Keith Hobbs.
The Thunder Bay Police Services Board placed Levesque on administrative suspension within a week of the charges being publicly announced. Levesque was on medical leave at the time he was charged.
Hobbs and his wife Marisa have since been charged with extortion and obstructing justice.
A judicial pre-trial was held by teleconference last month, with an out of jurisdiction judge presiding over the hearing.
The charges have not been proven in court.
Levesque is scheduled to return on Sept. 6.
