Mayor Joe Fontana will stand trial on three criminal charges early next year, but first he faces another day of a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

Ordinarily such hearings determine if a trial is necessary, but at the outset of Fontana’s hearing Monday his lawyer Gord Cudmore “consented” to Fontana being committed to stand trial in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

By continuing with the hearing, assistant Crown attorney Jim Zuber and Cudmore can test-drive witnesses and adjust their questioning and tactics as necessary for the trial.

Fontana, 63, of Arva, wore a black suit with a poppy in the lapel and was accompanied by his wife Vicky.

Seated at his lawyer’s table, Fontana listened intently to the two witnesses produced by the prosecution. Publication of evidence presented at the hearing was banned by order of Justice Ronald Marion of Kitchener.

Afterward, Cudmore met reporters and said things had gone well.

“I remain confident in an acquittal,” he said. He said he will push for the trial to occur as early in 2014 as possible.

Asked who’s paying Fontana’s legal tab, Cudmore noted that’s usually covered by lawyer-client privilege but he felt he needed to reply.

“Joe has paid all my bills promptly,” he said.

About 15 members of the public and about eight members of the local media watched proceedings in cavernous courtroom No. 1.

The hearing resumes Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Chip.martinu@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/ChipatLFPress

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THE CHARGES

Breach of trust by a public officer

Uttering forged documents

Fraud under $5,000

All counts relate to a $1,700 cheque from Public Works Canada used to pay a deposit on a room rental at the Marconi Club for the wedding reception of Joe Fontana’s son, Michael.

Maximum penalties: Range up to five and 10 years in prison on conviction.

Charges laid: By the RCMP on Nov. 21, 2012

Quote: “I’m innocent . . . I’m not going anywhere.”

The accused