A Brampton, Ont., justice of the peace has been charged with fraud after an Ontario Provincial Police investigation uncovered alleged irregularities in his expense accounts.

The OPP's anti-rackets branch alleges the court official, who works at the Ray Lawson Brampton courthouse, falsified his personal expense accounts from April 1 2005 to June 2011.

An investigation was launched last fall.

Justice of the Peace Santino Spadafora, 57, of Vaughan, Ont., has been charged with fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust.

In a statement, Spadafora said he intends to defend these allegations vigorously and is confident the charges will be resolved in a "favourable" way.

He is scheduled to appear in Old City Hall court in Toronto on April 27.