Extortion charge upheld in Burns case Updated

On Friday, November 10, 2006 Superior Court Justice Robert Boissonneault sentenced North Bay Constable Sean Burns, to a 3-month jail term for extortion followed by a 15-day probation term for harassment and a concurrent 18-month probation period following his release.

No sooner did the justice hand down the sentence when Burns, 36, was released pending an appeal.

Today the results of the appeal were determined.

"We received information today that the appeal was heard in regards to Constable Sean Burns and the charges under the Criminal Code of Canada and that one charge constituting criminal harassment was quashed, and the second charge or extortion was upheld. And the sentence was also upheld of 90 days," North Bay Police Service Deputy Chief Al Williams tells the media.

"He is in custody at this time."

Although the appeal has concluded Burns still faces a disciplinary hearing with the North Bay Police Service.

"Constable Burns is also facing charges under the Police Services Act," explains Williams.

"And we have a date in March to proceed with those, so the plan right now is for that to go ahead."