The courts are sending a clear message to elected officials, be they local or state: don’t lie about where you live.
Former Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alarcon became the latest recipient of this warning when he was sentenced to 120 days in county jail and banned for life from holding public office after being convicted of perjury and voter fraud?
His crime, like the crime of former Sen. Rod Wright – not living in his district. Alarcon, who has represented the San Fernando Valley in the state Senate and the Los Angeles City Council, was found guilty of lying about where he lived so he could run for the 7th District seat on the Los Angeles City Council.
Although the couple claimed to live in a Panorama City house that was under repair, a jury agreed they actually lived in a larger, nicer home in Sun Valley, which is located outside his 7th District.
Lawyers for the Alarcons had filed motions seeking a new trial, but Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli denied the motions Tuesday and sentenced the couple. Alarcon was also sentenced to 600 hours of community service and five years probation.
Alarcon was elected to the state Senate in 1998 and served Council District 7 from 2007-2013.