Hamilton cop to plead guilty to fraud charges
Sgt. Jason Howard has been on paid suspension since April 2014
A Hamilton cop suspended with pay since April 2014 for alleged fraudulent benefits claims will spend the summer away from the office, as he prepares a guilty plea for mid-July and lawyers enter submissions for his punishment in late September.
Sgt. Jason Howard was not at a teleconference Police Service Act hearing Friday morning, leaving his lawyer, Bernard Cummins, unsure if Howard will be available or "on vacation" on July 15, where he's expected to enter a guilty plea to his charges.
Cummins and Hamilton Police Services lawyer Marco Visentini are then expected to meet again on September 25, to enter submissions on punishment for the alleged fraudulent benefits claims from 2013.
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Police documents allege that Howard submitted two false claims to his benefits carrier, Manulife Financial, between Jan. 2 and Oct. 2, 2013.
Documents also say that Howard didn't surrender ammunition, or submit reports around found licence plates to police or the Ministry of Transportation.