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Former city councilman Richard Alarcon convicted on charges he lived outside district
File photo: In 2010, then L.A. City Councilman Richard Alarcon, right, and his wife, Flora Montes De Oca Alarcon, speak to media outside court where they were indicted on a number of counts stemming from allegations he lived outside his district.
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Former city councilman Richard Alarcon convicted on charges he lived outside district
Former Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon was found guilty of four felonies today stemming from allegations he did not live in the district he was elected to represent. The jury found him guilty of three counts of voter fraud and one count of perjury. Alarcon was found not guilty on multiple other counts.
His wife, Flora Montes de Oca Alarcon, was found guilty on two counts of voter fraud and one count of perjury.
Jurors deliberated for five days before reaching a verdict.
Richard and Flora Alarcon were indicted four years ago. The District Attorney's Office alleged the couple did not live in their Panorama City home located inside the San Fernando Valley district Alarcon represented at the time. Rather, prosecutors said they lived in Flora Alarcon's Sun Valley home and lied about their residency on campaign, voter registration and Department of Motor Vehicle forms.
The Alarcons always maintained their innocence. Defense attorneys argued the couple stayed at the Sun Valley home because they were renovating the other property, and because Alarcon himself was doing the work. The project took years to complete.
During the 11 days of testimony, neighbors told the jury they believed the Panorama City home was vacant. Utility bills showed the house did not have gas service for two years. When police served a search warrant in 2010, they found moldy orange juice and year-old eggs.
During his 2012 preliminary hearing, Alarcon ran for the state Assembly. He lost that race and last year, he was termed out of the L.A. City Council.
The Alarcons will return to court for sentencing on Sept. 10. Richard Alarcon faces as many as six years in state prison. He would also be barred from ever again holding elective office. Flora Alarcon faces up to five years and four months, according to the District Attorney's Office.
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