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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

DA: If You Lie In Court, You Will Be Prosecuted

Citing a rash of recent cases in which people lie under oath and sometimes even submit fraudulent documents to the Court, Northampton Count District Attorney John Morganelli has issued a warning. "If you lie in court, you will be prosecuted and you will have a criminal record.

Morganelli cited several recent referrals from the Court of instances in which people either lie or produce false documents.

In a recent drunk driving sentencing, David Boyd told Judge Jennifer Sletvold that he was in the U.S. Army, and had been deployed to several different areas of the world during his five years of service. Probation officers later determined that this information was false. Now Bod faces perjury and false swearing charges.

In a support case, Samuel J Wilson altered W-2s to make it look as though nearly $34,000 in income was just $5,000. After a referral from Judge Paula Roscioli, he's been charged with multiple counts of tampering with public records.

In another support case, James Dougherty provided Judge Sletvold with a doctor's note indicating he was unable to work, but susbsequent investigation revealed it was altered. He's been charged with forgery and false swearing.

"These matters are serious and there appears to be a trend," noted Morganelli. He cautioned everyone from attempting to deceive the Court. "Our judges are smart and recognize perjured testimony and fraudulent documents when they see it," he said.

He promised the following charges will be brought against those who lie in court.

Perjury - a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine up to $150,000.

False swearing - a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to two years and a fine up to $5,000.

Unsworn falsification to authorities - a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to two years and a fine up to $5,000.

Tampering with public records or information. - a misdemeanor or a felony.

Most people charged with a crime as a first offense are entitled to participate in a specail program called ARD, where the charges are wiped clean after a period of probation. But the DA said he'd be disinclined to agree to ARD. "That sends the wrong message," he noted. "This goes to the integrity of our judicial system."

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does morganelli have his sights on the ridge street stunner

Bernie O'Hare said...

I don't think so, though the case could be made.

Anonymous said...

Not a bad idea. I'd like to think he'll hold his own people and the "let's have a drink together after our busy day making deals" defense bar, and the cops to the same standard?

Not holding my breath.

-Clem

Anonymous said...

Oh matey please stop stalking the woman.

Anonymous said...

Lying starts at the top.

During the mid-1980's dairy farmers decided there was too much cheap milk at the supermarket.

So the government bought and slaughtered 1.6 million cows.

How come the government never does anything like this with lawyers?

- P.J. O'Rourke

Anonymous said...

When does Mez go to jail? She lied every time she entered that building.

Anonymous said...

Allentown Cops Lie

Anonymous said...

It's sad that this is news, and there is need for a crackdown on enforcing the law. It should just happen all the time.

That said, this is something that needs attention.

Anonymous said...

@2:02AM Who is stalking whom? If you go around stalking others, libeling them, harassing them, and then when you get negative attention you scream "stop stalking me,".... Right, it makes no sense.

Stop trying to make a pretzel into a circle, sweetie - it's a tired song and it doesn't work. You need those mirrors that angle in on the the sides, so you can get a 360 degree view of your insanity.

Anonymous said...

Funny that Bernie would post an article on lieing in court. Maybe it's from personal experience. After all he was charged with "legal conduct involving turpitude", "engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceipt or misreprensentation" "engaging in other conduct that is prejudicialto the administration of justice" "knowingly making a false statement of law or fact" "knowingly engaging in other illegal conduct..." and the list goes on.

With this kind of resume, why should anyone listen to someone like Bernie? Why should anyone believe someone who lies for a "living".

And Bernie has nerve to trash hard working people fighting for the party they belong to and what they believe in.

What does Bernie believe in?

Bernie O'Hare said...

The Blog Mentor takes a break from rolling on the floor and foaming at the mouth.

Go back to finding out who stole the strawberries, Captain.

Anonymous said...

So, it's funny to you that you were caught breaking the law and your oath. Exactly what I expected to hear from scum like you.

The only thing you are able to do, and not very well, is trash other people. You have nothing to offer the world or society except to stir up trash and cause uprising.

You're a sad, pathetic ugly old man who doesn't deserve anything from anybody.

If you had a reputable background, it might be worth reading your posts. After finding out you are nothing, it's a waste of time. You have nothing important to say that's why you prey on other people.

Just remember, what goes around, comes around.

Bernie O'Hare said...

When it happened in 1986, and I hear about it every day, it starts getting funny. If I am scum and have no reputable background and you don't think it's worthwhile to read these posts, why do you keep coming back??

The reason for all this venom is that I refuse to sing your tune. I refuse to sing anyone's tune.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Allentown Cops Lie"

This statement means exactly zero unless you attach your name or explain what you mean in detail.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, you can't sing because your motuh is too full of your own crap. The reason I keep coming back is the same reason you keep opening that hole you call a mouth and spew.

You have no clue about anything that is happening in this world and how people like you are destroying it. And when destruction hits, people like you will be crying for help like little babies you are. No one will want to help you because you people are the reason this country has gone down the drain. Selfish, lazy, FAT, people. Want everything handed to them without lifting a fat stubby finger to do anything on your own.

Two faced people who talk about how wrong it is to do this, but turn around and do something much worse. You sit back and complain and stir up poeple just like you and don't do a darn thing to fix it. Opening your mouth does nothing. Back up what your mouth is saying, but you can't because you don't know how. Just take advantage and take, take take, take, take...

Bernie O'Hare said...

Your response makes no sense. If I just spew crap, and I post all the comments and make everything up, then why are you here??? I should have no readers at all. The fact that you do keep coming back reveals that you don't believe what you are writing yourself, and are hoping that continued personal attacks will keep people away. But that just attracts more readers.

So thanks.

Now go back to rolling on the floor and foaming at the mouth.

Resident of Allentown said...

Just like the Pedestrian Crossing laws in Allentown, the perjury, false swearing, and Unsworn falsification laws are useless here because they are never enforced.
I've personally experienced unsworn falsification to the police to the point where it endangered myself and family. When I tried to have charges brought up against those responsible I was told by an A.P.D. officer: "That happens all the time" and I had no recourse. Maybe if the A.P.D. would prosecute those making false statements they would have time to work on real crime.
Part of the problem with that picture is the fact that judges in Allentown never punish anyone for such acts. When you personally see a judge smile at someone who they know just commited perjury and say "now, you really did just lie, didn't you?" and then ignore the perjury as if it was some special needs child instead of a fully functioning adult, you know you're in a hopeless battle.
Once my accuser and I were having an arguement and I said "You lied to about this just as you lied to the police and in court". The reply: "Yes I lied, so what?" And so what indeed? This person was taught that there will be no repurcusions no matter how many times the police knock on my door and waste police resources and my time. No punishment for perjury even if there is video and pictures proving the perjury.
And so it goes in Allentown, the "City without Enforced Laws".

Bernie O'Hare said...

If the person admits he lied, under oath, he purges himself of any criminal charges. Also, these cases are difficult and are only brought when the evidence is very compelling.

Anonymous said...

Somebody is angrily beating an old drum from almost 30 years ago.

As you pointed out Bernie, a couple of people write your blog isn't worth reading but they return everyday to read it and make any blog a personal attack on you.

You should be more heavy-handed in the use of the delete option, considering their blogs don't allow anything, that's remotely against their opinion, to be seen.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Haters gonna' hate.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, you need to stop writing anonymously, it's really pathetis. To make it look like people are actually responding to is? Come on, those were kindergarten tricks. or maybe it was your mother writing a note for you.

I see how it's a one side blog. Bernie's way or no way. No open minds, no listening to common sense, just what you have to say.

You welcome our thoughts and love to argue, all I've seen is you cowering. Feel free to disagree. Commenting is not a privelege it's my right to speak freely, just like you do. My ancestors fought for that right, not you. You couldn't fight your way out of a box, just sit there and wait for someone to open it for you.

Pathetic. But, I see that Bernie boy can't take what he dishes out, which is a hypocrit in every way shape and form

Anonymous said...

2:54: you said "Commenting is not a privelege it's my right to speak freely:

Wha-wha-what?

you've somehow formed the impression that you have some right to comment on a blog?

Bernie, are you running this for laughs?

Bernie O'Hare said...

2:54 is trying very hard to justify what he does by accusing me of doing it. Easier on his guilty conscience, if he has one.

Anonymous said...

Ok Bernie, i was arrested and made some statements before lawyering up. A Sgt and two arresting officers lied on their reports. I have video of the arrest and all three lied. They didnt know i had cameras, thats all I'll say

Anonymous said...

APD LIES, so why would they care

Anonymous said...

Go back to school

Anonymous said...

When 3 cops lie, you could end up in prison.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Make sure your att'y has a copy of that tape. But be careful. You may have run afoul of wiretapping laws, unless they consented. Under the Pa. Constitution, you have the right to protect your reputation, but I don't know if that will excuse this. You can trust your lawyer, but no one else. Including me.

Good luck.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

@8:03+8:04
Your copy and paste comments make me
YAAAWWWWWN.