A 77-year-old Jefferson County man who served as the mayor, police and fire chief of the tiny town of Lakeside pleaded guilty on Tuesday to embezzlement and official misconduct in a car-flipping scheme.
Robert Joel Gordanier pleaded guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to four years of probation, the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office said.
Gordanier’s other charges — two counts of embezzlement, two counts of official misconduct and felony theft — were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Gordanier also received a deferred sentence and must pay the town $26,088.
Investigators accused Gordanier of buying police vehicles from other jurisdictions and selling them to his daughter, former Town Clerk Brenda Hamilton, for a fraction of their market value. Hamilton allegedly resold the vehicles to make a profit.
A grand jury investigation began after CBS Colorado first reported on the scheme.
Gordanier cannot serve in any office “or engage in any employment of public trust” like mayor, councilmember or police officer while on probation, the DA’s office said.
An attorney for Gordanier declined to comment on the case.
Hamilton pleaded not guilty in the case and is set to appear in court Jan. 29.
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