Robertson enters guilty plea

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

23 August 2008

Posted By MICHAEL PEELING

Cross-country motorcyclist and Perry Dunlop supporter Roger Robertson walked out of the Cornwall courthouse Friday feeling "fantastic" after pleading guilty to a fraud charge.

The Calgary resident who grew up in Cornwall stopped in the city Wednesday for an extended visit with family and to file police complaints against the people he claims sexually abused him as a youth.

He claims to be innocent of the fraud charge, but pled guilty anyway to avoid six months in jail while the case goes through the court system.

"I was talked into pleading guilty on this charge that I did not commit," Robertson said. Now he feels free in his hometown because all outstanding charges against him have been cleared from the books.

The visit came in the midst of a ride across Canada on his Harley Davidson to raise awareness of former Cornwall Police officer Dunlop, who has remained in jail six months for refusing to testify at the Cornwall Public Inquiry.

Robertson says he respects Dunlop because he was an honest officer, despite being arrested by the former cop twice in his late 20s.

By his own admission, Robertson has spent about 20 of his 43 years in jail.

He has a criminal record spanning from 1982 to 2007, according to the Crown attorney's office.

Robertson's wife, Patti Newport, said Robertson gave Dunlop a statement describing the abuse he suffered in 1991.

Police picked up Robertson Thursday at the Eastcourt Mall on an outstanding warrant stemming from a 2004-fraud charge alleging he deposited a phoney cheque for $2,200 into the account of a woman.

Robertson is said to have obtained her debit card to make the deposit, then withdrew a total of $1,600 from the account with the card.

The Royal Bank of Canada reimbursed the victim, but claimed a total of $1,800 in losses. Robertson's lawyer said his client was willing to repay the bank after entering a guilty plea.

When given a chance to address the court, Robertson said he "just wanted to get this over and done with."

Robertson was ordered to pay RBC $1,800 in restitution, a $100 victim surcharge and serve a suspended sentence of one day.

Considering the historical nature of the charge, the court said "it's never too late to do the right thing" and commended Robertson for making amends. Newport, who was at the courthouse all day, said the arrest was "definitely an attempt to smear" his attempts to help Dunlop and the police complaints he is making.

Newport was surprised the police would arrest her husband with the recent media attention for his ride, but she says Robertson "knew what he was walking into."

Robertson is due to resume his ride to the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 4.

Article ID# 1169393

So let me get this straight...Robertson intends to file NEW complaints with the police over allegations of historical sexual abuse.

Now this is going to prove really interesting!!!

I would assume the complaints are going to be lodged with the police service where the alledged abuses took place - either CPS or the local OPP.

Project Truth has wrapped up long ago.

CPS wrapped up all their investigations.

The Cornwall Public Inquiry has commenced...(with no criminal mandate)

...and now we have a NEW complaintant!!!

Who's going to investigate this one???

Going to be interesting!!!

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #1 By RealityChecker

Its funny none of this came to light..

Robertson's wife, Patti Newport, said Robertson gave Dunlop a statement describing the abuse he suffered in 1991.

Why has this not shown up on any Radar?

Did Perry not believe his story back in 1991?

Did Perry not give all the statments to the OPP?

OR WAS ROGERS STORY BURIED??????????

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #2 By 2 sides 2 a story

2 sided 2 a story Please type in www.the inquiry.ca and/or SQLFusion. Everything back then did come to light. Perry did believe his story. Perry gave his story to the children's aid society along with the story of many other children because the upper classes that are charging him are in on it either they are pedophiles themselves or they are protecting them And he refuses to testify because he knows it will be to destroy his credibility. Now the cop is in jail and the pedophiles are still running free. the whole story from the beginning is on the inquiry , on the net.

 Reply | Report | Page Top Post #3 By high1013, 

What is so unbelievable about another victim surfacing, people just don't get it there are still many victims that have not filed complaints for fear of reprisals likes of which has happened to Perry Dunlop. Someone who has all ready been victimized by a pedophile does not want to go through being victimized by this corrupt system which protects the pedophiles and Jails the people that try to bring the truth out in the open.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #4 By dodger

the inquiry has sent a clear and concrete message to any victims and any whistle blowers don't do it or you will suffer the consequences some very powerful pedophiles hold the reigns of power in this area of the world.