Grand jury indicts Lakeside police chief, town clerk

DENVER (KDVR) — A grand jury for Gilpin and Jefferson counties indicted the Lakeside police chief and his daughter, the town clerk, over more than four years of alleged crimes.

Robert Joel Gordanier was mayor, police chief and fire chief for the town of Lakeside, while his daughter, Brenda Renee Hamilton, was the town clerk. The indictment includes counts like embezzlement of public property, theft and official misconduct. Hamilton is also accused of impersonating a peace officer.

Both of the accused former town employees surrendered to police this week and were released on $25,000 personal recognizance bonds, according to a Thursday release from the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation began on Nov. 17, 2023, after a media report of misconduct allegations. Hamilton was placed on administrative leave in November 2023. Throughout the investigation, Gordanier remained police chief but resigned as mayor in April.

The district attorney’s office laid out the accusations against them, which spanned July 2019 and November 2023.

Purchase of 3 town vehicles for below-market value

In March 2018, the town purchased a black Dodge Charger from a law enforcement auction for the police department. In July of that year, Hamilton purchased the Charger for $500 with the approval of Gordanier. The DA said the fair market value of the vehicle was closer to $8,588, and the car was later sold to a third party.

A similar matter was reported in September 2021: The town purchased a Ford Fusion from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office for the Lakeside Police Department for below market value as a special offer to assist the smaller department. Three months later, Gordanier approved the sale of the Ford Fusion to Hamilton for $1,000, when the fair market value was about $9,688. Then the Fusion was sold to a third party for $12,000.

A third vehicle purchased by the town was sold to Hamilton in September 2022. The DA said the town of Lakeside purchased a Chevrolet Tahoe from the Glenwood Springs Police Department for $8,500. Hamilton purchased it, with Gordanier’s approval, for $300, “or it was given to her,” the DA said in its release. Hamilton then sold the Tahoe to a third party for between $6,000 to $7,000.

Use of town funds, property for personal gain

Prosecutors say that between January 2022 and November 2023, Hamilton used a Visa credit card associated with Lakeside government to purchase items at Costco, which investigators say she kept and were not used by the town.

Hamilton is also accused of charging the $120 membership fee for her Costco membership to the town’s Visa account. The DA said she spent about $494.61 on unauthorized Costco purchases.

Hamilton is also accused of using a commissioned Lakeside police cruiser on July 25, 2023. Investigators said that at about 7:03 p.m. a year ago, Hamilton was in the cruiser and saw a wanted person in the parking lot of the Walmart in the 5900 block of West 44th Avenue. She activated the cruiser’s red and blue flashing lights and followed the man through the parking lot.

The suspect reacted to the blue and red lights by fleeing and then attempting to forcibly take a car from another person in the Walmart parking lot. A Walmart employee saw the attempted robbery and sought police assistance from the cruiser Hamilton was driving. Despite Hamilton having access to the police radio, she did not use the radio.

Because there were no police officers in the area, the employee ended up forcibly removing the suspect from the Walmart customer’s car, the district attorney’s Office said.

Lakeside chief, town clerk face felony charges

Gordanier is facing seven counts, including four felony charges:

• Three counts of embezzlement of public property, felonies
• One count of theft, a felony
• Three counts of first-degree official misconduct, a misdemeanor

Hamilton is facing 10 charges, including six felony counts:

• Four counts of embezzlement of public property, felonies
• One count of theft, a felony
• One count of impersonating a peace officer, a felony
• Four counts of first-degree official misconduct, misdemeanors

Gordanier surrendered on the charges on Thursday and Hamilton on Tuesday. Gordanier is scheduled for an advisement on Aug. 6, while Hamilton is scheduled for an advisement on Aug. 2.

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