After a 15-month investigation, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office has formally accused Councilman Richard Alarcon of lying about where he lived and illegally claiming that a Panorama City house was his residence. Prosecutors say that this was done so that he could run for an office that represents the Pacoima and Sylmar neighborhoods.
Many people may not realize that such a lie can be considered a felony offense. According to KTLA News, Richard Alarcon was charged with 18 felony counts, which include perjury and voter fraud. The councilman's wife has also been charged with three counts of perjury and three counts of voter fraud.
Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys representing the councilman insist that Richard Alarcon lives at 14451 Nordhoff Street in Panorama City and that him and his wife are innocent. They both pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges earlier this week. However, neighbors say that they have not seen the couple at the house in years.
There seems to be a bit of a mystery surrounding the councilman's residence, but this legal mess will all have to be cleared up in court. Richard Alarcon says that he does not plan to resign from the Los Angeles City Council. If he's innocent, why should he? With fraud case, it's a good idea to let Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys come up with the best defense strategy in the courtroom. Defense lawyers will also make sure that the defendant's legal rights are protected in a case and that his or her side of the story is heard.
Related Resources:
- Perjury - Criminal Law (FindLaw)
- See a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer (FindLaw)
- Overview of White Collar Crimes in California (FindLaw KnowledgeBase)
ShareThis
