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Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife, Flora, have pleaded not guilty this morning to re-filed charges of perjury and fraud, stemming from allegations the couple lived outside the district he represents and lied about his address.
The Alarcons have been released on their own recognizance, and are due back in court June 8 for a preliminary hearing, according to City News Service.
The charges were filed Thursday afternoon, just hours after those exact same charges were dismissed by a Superior Court judge.
District Attorney Steve Cooley says the dismissal of charges is "inexplicable," and immediately refiled against the Alarcons.
Alarcon has long-maintained his innocence. He explained in 2010 that he had not been living at his Panorama City residence because of a recent break-in.
Yesterday, before Cooley re-filed the charges, Alarcon applauded the judge who dismissed the case in an interview with City News Service:
"My wife and I are obviously very pleased with the judge's ruling today. We have maintained our innocence throughout this process and have always believed that when all of the evidence is considered, we would be found innocent."
It appears the Alarcons are moving forward on the same assertion regarding their culpability in the case as of this morning.
