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Local Man Who Made False Statements About Earnings Faces Jury Trial
Statement made under penalty of perjury as part of divorce proceedings.
A Half Moon Bay resident who falsely stated the amount he earned under penalty of perjury will face a jury trial next month, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office said.
As part of the proceedings for a divorce, John Fotinos, 47, wrote on a document that he was presently unemployed, had no income and had not been able to find work in the preceding 12 months. Fotinos filled out the paperwork on Dec. 23, 2010.
At the time, Fotinos was out on a felony probation for a 2007 grand theft conviction.
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At a family law court hearing in April 2011, the attorney representing Fotinos' now ex-wife showed paperwork that the defendant had earned $27,000 at a construction company in 2010. The paperwork also showed that Fotinos was employed when he made the statements, the District Attorney's Office said.
After being confronted with this paperwork, Fotinos said he made a mistake and then asked for an attorney, the District Attorney's Office said.
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The defendant is being charged with perjury, as well as for filing a false instrument with a public office.
Fotinos' trial will start on Aug. 23, according to the District Attorney's Office.
He is currently out of custody on a $25,000 bail bond.
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