BAR OWNER'S CHARGES DROPPED

Tracy Robinson is an angry man.

After three months, five court appearances and hundreds of dollars in
legal fees, charges against the 45-year-old restaurateur have been
withdrawn.

"Sure it's a load off, but it never should have happened," Robinson
said.

Robinson was charged with conspiracy to traffic narcotics and
possession of proceeds of crime Oct. 30.

Federal prosecutor Chris Corkery withdrew the charges yesterday in
Ontario Court of Justice.

Based on the evidence, Corkery said, the Crown had no reasonable
prospect of conviction.

No one assumed he was innocent until proven guilty, Robinson
said.

"It's the other way around," he said. "You're guilty until proven
innocent."

Robinson said he's lost business at his bar, Mr. Bob's, located on The
Queensway, because of the charges.

Christmas parties at his business were cancelled, he said, and
customers stayed away.

"Customers need to come back," Robinson said. "It wasn't
me."

Not only was his business affected, Robinson said, but his reputation
has suffered.

In 2005 Robinson donated more than $3,600 to Bowl for Kids Sake, a
fundraiser for Big Brothers-Big Sisters.

He was the top fundraiser for the event that year.

"This year they didn't even call me," Robinson said.

The only reason he was charged, Robinson said, was because he was
accused of hearing an employee talk about selling drugs.

When police searched his bar they seized money from his safe, Robinson
said, and said it was the proceeds of crime.

Robinson said he's struggled to keep his liquor licence as a result of
the charges.

"I'm innocent and they should know I'm innocent," Robinson said.