New evidence the prosecution is hoping will impact the punishment given to a Sudbury police officer found guilty of discreditable conduct has postponed that decision.
First Class Const. Robert Rheaume appeared before members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service board Tuesday morning in a conference call with both the defence and prosecution.
Prosecutor David Migicovsky said a GoFundMe account set up by Rheaume, who is looking to raise funds to help pay his legal costs, has brought new information to the table. However, Rheaume's defence lawyers say the GoFundMe account is included in another charge, so it would be prejudicial for adjudicator Greg Walton, a retired OPP superintendent, to use it in handing down his decision.
It was that GoFundMe account that was the bone of contention during the brief conference call on Tuesday.
As a result, both parties agreed to come back to the table on June 13, giving Walton time to review written submissions. He will determine whether the new evidence, as suggested by the prosecution, should be allowed.
Rheaume was found guilty of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act in February for posts he made on Facebook in 2017 critical of other members of the police service. In particular, he talks about wages made public through the annual Sunshine List, which details salaries of public sector employees who make more than $100,000 a year.
He also faces two more counts of discreditable conduct, one count of insubordination and one count of breach of confidence.
Rheaume will return before the tribunal on June 11 at the Lexington Hotel to answer to the charges of discreditable conduct and insubordination.
