'Vigilante' Hamilton cop convicted in gun-planting scheme loses appeals

A Hamilton police officer convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice after he "encouraged" a source to plant a gun at a suspected drug trafficker's house has lost his appeal of his conviction and sentence.

Robert Hansen was sentenced in June 2016 to five years in prison. Superior Court Justice Catriona Braid called Hansen's conduct an example of "vigilante justice."

Hansen was trying to overturn the conviction and, if that didn't work, to reduce the sentence.

In a decision released Monday a panel of three Ontario appellant judges rejected both appeals. 

Hansen's behaviour was demonstrated in text messages exchanged in May 2012 between Hansen and someone he thought would plant a gun at a suspected drug trafficker's house.

Hansen: "He could use some jail time. Do u you have any ideas how to get him?"

Source: "you keep him away from my girl by locking him up if you can do that I'll set him up for you"

"I'll let you guys get him with a thing"

Hansen: "This will get him put away for several years"

"I will help u fuck these guys up"

When the source expressed reluctance a few days later, Hansen encouraged him to persevere, and even talked about other "set ups" in the future.

Hansen: "It would help tons. Especially that heat."

Crimes 'strike at the very soul of the judicial system'

The target of the gun-planting scheme, Darren Mork, has sued Hamilton police, Hansen and former chief Glenn De Caire for $1.5 million.

• A Hamilton cop tried to plant a gun at his house; now he's speaking up

The appeals court rejected Hansen's four arguments to overturn the conviction, which included his contention that the judge had misjudged his credibility and that she had unreasonably convicted him of perjury and two counts obstructing justice.

"Her conclusions on these issues were not cumbered by legal error or misapprehension or failure to consider relevant evidence and are plainly reasonable," the appeals court wrote.

In his argument to appeal the length of his sentence, Hansen argued five years is "unduly harsh."

But while they acknowledged the sentence is "substantial," the judges rejected the argument.

"The offence of perjury, for that matter, the crime of attempting to obstruct justice, strike at the very soul of the judicial system," the appeals judges wrote. "Those found to have committed either must expect severe punishment."

CBC News is seeking comment from Greg Lafontaine, a lawyer for Hansen.

Mork's civil case has been stalled awaiting the outcome of Hansen's appeals. Nick Cake, Mork's lawyer, said the case can now move forward.

"Hansen's liability is now clearly established and has been done so by our province's highest court," Cake said.

Cake said now the question is what Hansen's higher-ups knew about the situation, and what, if anything they did "to curtail Hansen's clearly criminal actions."

Jackie Penman, spokeswoman for Hamilton police, said the service does not comment on matters before the courts. 

kelly.bennett@cbc.ca