Senator Raymond Lavigne has been found guilty of fraud and breach of trust for misusing Senate funds and pocketing expenses that were actually run up by his staff.
A judge convicted the former Liberal on the two charges Friday, but found him not guilty on a third charge of obstruction of justice.
Judge Robert Smith of Ontario Superior Court said Lavigne “used and intended to use his public office for a purpose other than the public good.”
“I find that the Crown has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Senator Lavigne committed a dishonest and false act when he claimed for reimbursement of travel expenses that he had not incurred.”
The fraud amounted to $10,120.50.
Lavigne faces up to 14 years in prison for fraud over $5,000, and up to five years for breach of trust. He is to be sentenced May 10.
He has been barred from attending Senate proceedings since he was charged in 2007 but has continued to collect his $132,300 annual salary. He has also claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars for travel, hospitality, office and living expenses.
Lavigne, a former Liberal MP, was appointed to the Senate 2002, but was expelled from the Liberal caucus in 2006.
The senator’s conduct first came under suspicion in the summer of 2005. An aide sent to chop down trees on Lavigne’s riverfront property in Wakefield, Que., wound up felling dozens of saplings on a neighbour’s lot. The neighbour complained and a subsequent investigation led to the charges.
Court heard that the aide was on the Senate payroll while working on the waterfront property and while accompanying Lavigne and his wife on a Caribbean vacation.
Former employees told court about installing a door on the senator’s house in their free time, and working out with him before dawn at hotel gyms.
Lavigne was also accused of refunding only a portion of expenses owed to employees and pocketing the rest.
More recently, the senator came under scrutiny for spending more than $300,000 on office and travel expenses since 2007 — even though he has been barred from Senate activities.
Marjory LeBreton, government leader in the Senate, has said the rules should be changed so that senators facing criminal charges can’t claim expenses for work they’re no longer entitled to do.