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Guibord and Lalonde also released statements through their lawyers.

“Marcel Guibord is a respected member of the community who was proud to serve as mayor of Clarence-Rockland from 2010-2014,” lawyer Sean May said in a written statement. “He has always maintained his innocence, and is glad that his lengthy and difficult process is now complete.”

Lalonde had also maintained his innocence, and indicated in his statement that the lengthy legal process leading to the stay had been a “trying time.”

“We are pleased that the Crown has concluded that having analyzed the evidence, there is no reasonable prospect of conviction,” said a statement released by lawyers Marie Henein and Christine Mainville. “He is happy to finally be able to put this behind him.”

The OPP charged the four in 2013, the fallout from the firing of Gatien in 2010. That cost the town $372,000 in severance and fees, and Gatien quickly found a job in another municipality.

In 2011, Guibord told Ontario Provincial Police that someone had stolen emails from his home computer. When detectives reviewed the contents of the emails, the direction of the criminal probe took a turn against the mayor. The emails allegedly revealed a plot among the mayor, his former business partner, and two councillors to oust Gatien.

The anti-rackets squad then laid charges of breach of trust against Guibord, Choinière, Félio, and Lalonde, following a two-year investigation.

Gatien has also filed a defamation suit against Guibord, which remains before the civil court.

Choinière was the only one of the four to return to municipal council after being charged when she was re-elected in October 2014. Guibord ran for mayor, but was ousted by voters who instead elected Guy Desjardins. Félio is no longer on council.

aseymour@ottawacitizen.com

Twitter.com/andrew_seymour