Former Lakeside police chief pleads guilty to embezzlement, misconduct for selling town vehicles to daughter below value

A man who served as the police chief, mayor and fire chief of a tiny town in the Denver metro area pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzlement and official misconduct for selling town vehicles far below the market price to his daughter, who then sold them for a personal profit.

Robert Gordanier, 77, admitted to embezzlement of public property and first-degree official misconduct while he served the town of Lakeside between July 2019 and November 2023, according to the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  

Gordanier was sentenced to four years of probation and was ordered to pay the town of Lakeside $26,088 in restitution. Under a plea agreement, five other charges were dismissed.

The grand jury investigation was opened November 2023, shortly after CBS Colorado reported on allegations that Gordanier was selling his daughter, Brenda Hamilton, who was town clerk, at least two town vehicles at prices well below what the vehicles would have cost on the open market. 

The investigation found that in July 2021, Hamilton, 51, purchased a black Dodge Charger from the town’s police department for $500, with her father’s approval, when the fair market value was $8,588, the district attorney’s office said. 

In September 2021, the town bought a Ford Fusion from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office at a discounted price, “specially offered by Arapahoe County to assist the smaller Lakeside Police Department,” the DA’s office said. Then Hamilton purchased the car for $1,000, before she sold it to a third party for $12,000. 

In September 2022, Hamilton bought a Chevrolet Tahoe, which Lakeside purchased from the Glenwood Springs police for $8,500, for $300 or it was given to her, the district attorney’s office said. She then sold it to a third party for between $6,000 and $7,000. 

Gordanier remained in his role as police chief throughout the investigation but resigned as mayor in April 2024. He was placed on administrative leave in November 2023. 

The investigation also found that Hamilton allegedly used a town credit card to buy personal items at Costco, as well as a personal Costco membership, totalling nearly $500, according to the district attorney’s office. 

Hamilton, who faces 10 counts, has pleaded not guilty. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Jan. 29, online court records show. 

Chief Deputy District Attorney Darren Kafka said Gordanier’s actions represented “a significant breach of public trust, undermining confidence in both our government institutions and law enforcement everywhere.”

Under a condition of his probation, Gordanier cannot hold any office, elected or otherwise, or engage in any employment of public trust, including mayor, councilmember or peace officer.

Gordanier’s attorney could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Gordanier did not speak during Tuesday’s hearing, the district attorney’s office said.