THUNDER BAY - According to Keith Hobbs, he remained in contact with the alleged extortion victim in the fall of 2016 because of concerns for Mary Voss, and he always intended to go to police with evidence of possible criminal activity.
Former Thunder Bay mayor Keith Hobbs was called to testify in his own defense on the charge of extortion on Wednesday during Day 12 of the trial against himself, his wife Marisa Hobbs, and local resident Mary Voss.
Hobbs recounted the first time meeting with the alleged victim to discuss a possible business matter. According to Hobbs, the victim was intoxicated during that first meeting on Oct. 19, 2016 and used derogatory language toward Marisa, Voss, and another individual, which he said was ‘disgusting.’
The victim later called and apologized for his behaviour and invited Keith and Marisa Hobbs to a dinner meeting on Oct. 25, 2016, followed by attending another residence because according to Keith Hobbs, he wanted to see guns that the victim had mentioned earlier.
Hobbs said he advised the victim to turn the guns into police because they were improperly stored and that he would receive amnesty because the guns were already at the home when it was purchased.
It was during this meeting where Hobbs recalled the victim acting strangely, taking his shirt off, referencing a fake will, and that someone was trying to extort him, all of which was recorded and later shared on social media.
“Did you have any idea what he was talking about,” Greenspan asked.
“Not really. He said people who did this to me are extorting me,” Hobbs said. “I was thinking in the back of my head that maybe it was Mary.”
Greenspan asked Hobbs why he continued to meet with the victim after witnessing his odd behaviour.
“I had this nagging concern in the back of my head about Mary,” Hobbs said. “And now seeing guns.”
Hobbs added that the victim also referred to $2 million with respect to the possible business they were discussing earlier.
It intrigued him.
“Who couldn’t use $2 million?” Hobbs said.
Earlier in the trial, the alleged victim testified that Hobbs offered him security consultation services, and a chance to take over from Craig Loverin as the victim's bodyguard, which Hobbs testified was not true.
“Did you ever request compensation for services relating to investigative or security services from the victim?” Greenspan asked
“Absolutely not,” Hobbs replied.
Documents unrelated to this case, which were deemed admissible by Justice Fletcher Dawson, did indicate that Hobbs had been providing detective and surveillance services for another individual around this time.
Greenspan also asked about two $10,000 cheques given by the victim to the Hobbs, the first of which was ripped up by Hobbs because he felt a ‘little queasy about taking it and so was Marisa."
Hobbs added he also ripped up the cheque because it was made out to him, and the cheque, as it related to the possible business with the victim, had more to do with Marisa.
The victim asked Hobbs to write a second $10,000 cheque made out to Marisa Hobbs, which they took with them, but later voided and returned to the victim.
“I said to Marisa that we really shouldn’t take this,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs recounted when he was first shown videos depicting the victim acting erratically and using vulgar and offensive language.
“He was very vile, disgusting,” Hobbs testified. “I remember I started to cry.”
Hobbs continued that he told Voss that she needed to go to police ‘daily, hourly,’ but she refused.
“Mary was adamant, she was trembling,” Hobbs said. “She said no way, she can’t go to the police. I was trying to wrap my head around what to do at that point. I said she was going to stay with us.”
“I felt she needed to stay with us before I convinced her to go to the police.”
When questioned about the purchase of a house for Voss, Hobbs said he was aware that the victim had offered to purchase a $250,000 house on Edward Street for Voss.
Because Voss had already been approved for a $200,000 mortgage, Hobbs said he asked her if the victim could pay out the value of the Edward Street home, giving Voss more than $400,000 to put toward a house of her own.
Greenspan asked Hobbs if he ever threatened the victim on the value of the house by saying he would go to police.
“No, that is absolutely not true,” Hobbs said.
Regarding the agreement Hobbs drafted that stated Voss would get a $429,000 house in return for not going to police, Hobbs said he was asked to draft it by the victim after Marisa said another individual, who cannot be named, should be drafting it.
Hobbs said he used a template found on Google to draft the agreement, along with help from the victim.
He also testified about meeting Loverin in the parking lot of a local grocery store to give him a USB drive with videos of the alleged victim.
Hobbs said he respected Loverin for his military service and wanted to show him the kind of person he was working for.
“But secondly, and most importantly, don’t get yourself in trouble doing this guy’s dirty work,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs added he told Loverin he could do whatever he wanted with the USB drive, including showing it to the victim if he wanted to.
Throughout his testimony, Hobbs, who was also questioned by his lawyer about substantial credit card debt in 2016, maintained he was only trying to help protect Voss and had every intention of going to the police, even after the agreement was drafted and signed by Voss and the victim.
“I believe it backed up his behaviour,” he said. “It was further evidence he was trying to buy himself out. The phrase I’ve heard in this courtroom is cash for silence.”
Complete coverage of Hobbs trial:
Day 1: Keith Hobbs trial starts today
Witness testifies of interactions between Hobbs and alleged extortion victim
Day 2: Details of extortion allegations heard at Hobbs trial
Day 3: Videos from USB drive given by Hobbs shown in court
Day 4: Alleged extortion victim calls behaviour in videos horrid and awful
'Pack your toothbrush' Hobbs alleged warned extortion victim
Day 5: Alleged extortion victim trying to ‘buy silence:’ Greenspan
Day 6: Alleged extortion victim believes Voss was ‘swayed’ by Keith and Marisa Hobbs
Witness testifies of agreement signed between alleged extortion victim and accused
Day 7: More details emerge of alleged victim’s state in fall 2016 and the discovery of a will
Day 8: Homeowner testifies of Marisa Hobbs and Voss viewing $429,000 home
‘I have never extorted anyone’ Hobbs says during videotaped statement with OPP
Day 9: ‘We are guilty of being stupid:’ Marisa Hobbs tells police
Day 10: OPP investigator tells Voss ‘the truth will set you free’
Marisa Hobbs ‘won’t take no for an answer:’ Voss
Day 11: Voss believes alleged extortion victim 'set her up'
