London Mayor Joe Fontana found guilty of three counts in fraud trial

London Mayor Joe Fontana leaves superior court after being found guilty of fraud, forgery and breach of trust in London, Ont. on Friday, June 13, 2014. (Tara Overholt/ CTV London)

London Mayor Joe Fontana has been found guilty on three counts in his fraud trial.

The verdict came down Friday at superior court in London, where Justice Bruce Thomas found Fontana guilty of fraud, forgery and breach of trust.

Fontana admitted that as a member of Parliament he altered a contract that he submitted for expenses in 2005, but had argued the $1,700 the government paid out was not for his son's wedding.

The judge said Fontana abused the public trust when he altered a contract that he submitted for expenses in 2005. But Thomas said the former MP and the president of the club where the wedding was held concocted a story for the court intended to create reasonable doubt.

Thomas also said he could not understand "why a man of such accomplishments might choose to take these actions for the sum of $1,700," but that did not detract from the strength of the Crown's case.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 15.

With files from The Canadian Press.