March 26, 2007

Jury Convicts Bell Gardens Council Member of Filing a False Police Report

DOWNEY – A Bell Gardens council member was convicted by a Superior Court jury today of filing a false police report last summer after attending a party at a South Broadway club in Los Angeles.

The jury deliberated less than a day before convicting 29-year-old Mario Beltran of the single charge. Deputy District Attorney Maureen O’Brien of the Public Integrity Division said sentencing was scheduled for June 6. Beltran faces a possible maximum six-month jail term and a $1,000 fine.

Evidence presented at the two-week trial was that Beltran filed a report with the Bell Gardens Police Department claiming that he had been the victim of a street robbery at 3 a.m. on June 28, 2006, in downtown Los Angeles.

After Los Angeles police investigated report and new evidence came to light in connection with a second investigation of an incident that occurred about the same time, the matter was turned over to the District Attorney’s Office.

The single misdemeanor count was filed on Nov. 28, 2006.