Lougheed, who is chair of the Sudbury Regional Police Services Board, said he will step down from that position and his role as chancellor of Huntington University until the matter is resolved.

Lougheed, who is chair of the Sudbury Regional Police Services Board, said he will step down from that position and his role as chancellor of Huntington University until the matter is resolved.



“I have no further comments at this time as this matter is now before the courts,” he said in a press release.

Following is the full text from Lougheed's statement:



"Today I was served a summons by the OPP that they are proceeding with charges against me.



I will be vigorously defending these charges in the courts. AS I have previously indicated, if charged, I would step aside from the Sudbury Regional Police Services Board, and my position as chancellor of Huntington University until this matter is resolved.



"I have no further comments at this time as this matter is now before the courts."



The OPP said Lougheed was charged following a complex investigation into allegations of irregularities involving a local electoral candidate nomination process in Sudbury.



The investigation by members of the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch began in January of 2015.



Lougheed is charged with one count of Counselling an Offence Not Committed [Section 464 (a) of the Criminal Code] and one count of Unlawfully Influencing or Negotiating Appointments [Section 125 (b) of the Criminal Code]. Lougheed is expected to appear in Sudbury court on Nov. 18.



"This has been a very uncommon investigation," said the OPP in a news release. "The OPP will not comment further on matters of evidence in order to protect the integrity of the investigation and the ensuing court process."