Posted on 07/22/2008 11:59:43 AM PDT by jazusamo
MP3 Audio: Alvarez Medal of Honor claim
Before he was sentenced, Alvarez told Judge R. Gary Klausner that he was "very remorseful" for his false claims of military valor.
"I'd like to apologize to everyone in this whole nation," said Alvarez, who represents south Pomona
on the Three Valleys Municipal Water District board.As part of Alvarez's terms of probation, the court recommended he perform one year of community service - one day per week - at the veterans hospital in Loma Linda.
The judge threw out a term of probation that would have required Alvarez to serve five months of home detention.
The home detention may have resulted in Alvarez losing his seat on the water board. He would have automatically lost his seat with a felony conviction, but the medal charge is a misdemeanor.
His seat could have been declared vacated if he was unable to attend board meetings for three months.
The federal charge was brought against Alvarez when taped comments surfaced of a statement he made at a July 2007 meeting of the Walnut Valley Water District.
After Alvarez was introduced as a guest at the meeting, he told the assembled crowd that he was a retired Marine and a Medal of Honor winner. Alvarez never served in the military.
He agreed to plead guilty to the charge in April after a motion to dismiss the charge on constitutional grounds failed.
Alvarez, through his attorney, argued that the Stolen Valor Act, under which he was charged, violated the First Amendment because it criminalizes false speech.
Klausner told Alvarez he would be issued a harsher sentence if he was convicted of the same charge in the future.
Alvarez has 10 days to appeal his conviction on constitutional grounds. Alvarez declined to comment after the hearing.
One veteran who attended the hearing said he was upset afterward that Alvarez was not sentenced to jail for a length of time sufficient for his water board seat to be vacated.
"That's not justice," said Fred Stillions of La Verne.
Three Valleys director Bob Bowcock, who has been the most outspoken board member against Alvarez, said Monday he wished the sentence had been more strict.
"It was inappropriate what he did, and I think it should be more strict than what it is," said Bowcock, who represents La Verne and Claremont.
Bowcock also said he doubted whether Alvarez was truly remorseful for his lies of military valor.
"If he really and truly shows remorse, then he should step down," Bowcock said. "To me, that would truly show that he is remorseful."
A Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office investigation into allegations that Alvarez illegally signed up his ex-wife for district-paid health benefits is ongoing, said David Demerjian, head of the office's Public Integrity Division.
Charges brought against Alvarez in connection with the alleged theft of health benefits could potentially be a felony, meaning that a conviction would automatically disqualify Alvarez from holding public office.
Former Pomona Councilman Marco Robles announced last month that he was a member of a committee formed to recall Alvarez.
Robles did not return a call seeking comment Monday.
Bowcock said he did not believe the group had filed the necessary paperwork to begin collecting signatures, of which it needs 3,000 from Alvarez's district to place a recall measure on a future ballot, Bowcock said.
MOH Faker Ping!
As a member of the nation-I don’t accept your apology.
Please support the POW Network:
They deal with posers like this very effectively.
Thanks for posting link, cll.
Scroll down a little and you’ll see Alvarez’ story here:
http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies1050.htm
You’re welcome.
This is truly someone without a conscience. A veritable psychopath.
The next step is a massive publicity campaign when he is up for re-election.
Agreed, hope the turkey gets nailed on the other charge.
What a jerk - claiming there’s a constitutional right to impersonate a war hero. At least this judge had sense enough to reject that.
Yes, this guy is not only a serial liar but an imbecile.
Who does he think he is..Juan Kerry (who served in Veeeeetnam)?
OK there, Mr. Honor-thief. I’ll consider accepting your apology on one condition. You, personally, and at your own expense, travel and visit every living MOH recipient and personally apologize and gratefully receive from them whatever punishment they deem appropriate. Then you visit the grave of every deceased MOH recipient and lay a wreath in their honor. Then come to Indianapolis to the MOH memorial and stand at attention for 24 hours straight. Then, I’ll consider accepting your apology.
So do laws against perjury, libel, slander, and false advertising.
Tough.
I don't know...the water board sounds like a good place for this guy...;-)
Waterboarding may have been an appropriate punishment.
Money in the freezer, lying about have sex with a subordinate in the office, selling missile guidance technology, failure to live up to campaign promises (Pelosi and Reid, we'll loweer the price of gas), and the beat goes on.
When will we see John Kerry’s conviction for similar charges?
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