A Toronto judge has served Craig Ruthowsky with notice that the suspended Hamilton cop is looking at a lengthy prison term after rejecting both the defence and Crown’s proposed sentences.Earlier this year, a Toronto jury convicted Ruthowsky of bribery for accepting protection money from Hamilton drug dealers, attempting to obstruct justice, criminal breach of trust and drug trafficking.Crown attorney John Pollard suggested a penitentiary terms of 10 years, noting in his submissions that there is no reported case in Canada of a police officer accepting a bribe in order to protect an offender.Defence lawyer Greg Lafontaine asked the judge to impose a three- four-year sentence, taking into account the “collateral” damage the convictions have caused Ruthowsky’s family.The judge flatly rejected both as too light for “repugnant” crimes.“It doesn’t look good for you in terms of what you perhaps expected the outcome would be,” Superior Court Justice Robert Clark told Ruthowsky, who will hear the bad news next Tuesday.Clark also said he wants to delay Ruthowsky’s eligibility for parole.Nonetheless, Clark told court he is “keeping an open mind here,” and will hear further submissions Tuesday.During the trial, in the absence of the jury, Clark expressed shock at how Ruthowsky operated as a Hamilton Police Service guns and gangs officer. On Wednesday, Clark delivered a blistering attack on the 44-year-old, accusing him of using his badge like an ATM machine.Clark asked Ruthowsky if he had anything to say before he imposes sentence.“The only thing I want you to know is that this conviction, the jury decision was shocking, devastating. It’s destroyed my life. It’s destroyed the life of my kids,” Ruthowsky said.“Well sir, you’re the author of that misfortune. You destroyed your own life by taking bribes,” Clark shot back.With “some trepidation,” Clark s ...
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