L.A. City Councilman Richard Alarcon (Los Angeles Times) |
LOS ANGELES Embattled Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who has been indicted on 18 felony counts including perjury and voter fraud, could be removed from his seat if his colleagues choose to act.
But it appears Alarcon's fellow council members are taking a 'wait and see' attitude toward the charges.
An L.A. County grand jury handed up the indictments against Alarcon and his wife, Flora Montes de Oca, on Wednesday.
Several L.A. City council members have stated that action will be taken only if Alarcon is found guilty of the charges.
The 56 year old councilman has been under investigation since allegations were made last year that he didn't live in the Panorama City home he used as a voting address.
Alarcon faces two felony counts of filing a false declaration of candidacy, once in 2006 and again in 2008. He also faces seven counts of voter fraud, and nine counts of perjury.
His wife has been charged with three counts of perjury and three counts of voter fraud.
Alarcon and his wife both pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. Through his attorneys, Alarcon released this statement:
My wife and I are innocent of the charges being brought by the District Attorney. Our home is located at 14451 Nordhoff Street in Panorama City in the Seventh Council District. That home has been my legal residence since November 2006, and it has been my family's legal residence since my wife Flora and I were married in August 2007. My wife and I are confident that when all of the relevant facts are brought out in a court of law, we will be acquitted of these charges and will be found to have broken no laws.
Alarcon, who represents neighborhoods such as Pacoima and Sylmar, has repeatedly stated that his residency is at the 1950 tract house on Nordoff Street in Panorama City, where he is registered to vote.
The Councilman says he and his family don't always stay in that home. He says after a transient broke into his Panorama City home last year they sometimes stay at a home in Sun Valley. Sun Valley is in a neighboring district.
Prosecutors have been trying for several months to determine where Alarcon lived.
At least six of Alarcon's employees were subpoenaed to appear before a criminal grand jury last month.
One neighbor who lives across the street from Alarcon's Panorama City home told the Los Angeles Times earlier this year that the councilman has not lived at the residence for three years.
But it appears Alarcon's fellow council members are taking a 'wait and see' attitude toward the charges.
An L.A. County grand jury handed up the indictments against Alarcon and his wife, Flora Montes de Oca, on Wednesday.
Several L.A. City council members have stated that action will be taken only if Alarcon is found guilty of the charges.
The 56 year old councilman has been under investigation since allegations were made last year that he didn't live in the Panorama City home he used as a voting address.
Alarcon faces two felony counts of filing a false declaration of candidacy, once in 2006 and again in 2008. He also faces seven counts of voter fraud, and nine counts of perjury.
His wife has been charged with three counts of perjury and three counts of voter fraud.
Alarcon and his wife both pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. Through his attorneys, Alarcon released this statement:
My wife and I are innocent of the charges being brought by the District Attorney. Our home is located at 14451 Nordhoff Street in Panorama City in the Seventh Council District. That home has been my legal residence since November 2006, and it has been my family's legal residence since my wife Flora and I were married in August 2007. My wife and I are confident that when all of the relevant facts are brought out in a court of law, we will be acquitted of these charges and will be found to have broken no laws.
Alarcon, who represents neighborhoods such as Pacoima and Sylmar, has repeatedly stated that his residency is at the 1950 tract house on Nordoff Street in Panorama City, where he is registered to vote.
The Councilman says he and his family don't always stay in that home. He says after a transient broke into his Panorama City home last year they sometimes stay at a home in Sun Valley. Sun Valley is in a neighboring district.
Prosecutors have been trying for several months to determine where Alarcon lived.
At least six of Alarcon's employees were subpoenaed to appear before a criminal grand jury last month.
One neighbor who lives across the street from Alarcon's Panorama City home told the Los Angeles Times earlier this year that the councilman has not lived at the residence for three years.
