Former Lakeside police chief pleads guilty to embezzlement ahead of daughter's court date

DENVER (KDVR) — The former chief of police for the Lakeside Police Department pleaded guilty Tuesday to two charges linked to his time as mayor, police and fire chief.

Robert Joel Gordanier pleaded guilty to felony embezzlement of public property and misdemeanor first-degree official misconduct. His guilty plea resulted in the dismissal of five other charges, including a charge of theft.

He was indicted on those charges in July alongside his daughter, Brenda Renee Hamilton, who was the town clerk, for allegations of acts committed between July 2019 and November 2023.

Gordanier was given a deferred sentence for the felony charge of four years of supervised probation and the payment of $26,088 in restitution to the town. On the misdemeanor, Gordanier was sentenced to four years probation to be served concurrently, but the sentence will remain a permanent conviction, according to the First Judicial District Attorney's Office.

One of the conditions of his probation is that Gordanier cannot hold any elected or other office, or "engage in any employment of public trust, including mayor, councilmember or peace officer while serving probation."

Shortly after a grand jury indictment in July, a press release detailing the investigation into misconduct was released. The district attorney's office described how Hamilton and Gordanier were said to have collaborated on a scheme to purchase three vehicles for town business. Then, prosecutors allege, the vehicle would be sold for personal profit to third parties for a higher price than what the town paid for the vehicle.

Additionally, Hamilton is accused of charging personal expenses to the town’s Visa account and in July 2023, using a commissioned Lakeside police cruiser. Prosecutors described in the July release how Hamilton allegedly saw a wanted suspect in a parking lot, activated the cruiser's red and blue emergency lights, and followed the suspect through the parking lot.

Hamilton has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges ranging from embezzlement of public property to impersonating a peace officer. She is scheduled to appear in court for a disposition hearing on Jan. 29.