San Diego

A San Diego city planning inspector who had admitted he was guilty of a federal tax charge was sentenced Monday to six months in federal custody, fined $25,000 and placed on five years’ probation, prosecutors said.

Vito G. DeMarino, 47, of La Mesa had pleaded guilty to a sole felony count of filing a false tax return. He was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Judith N. Keep, who ordered that he serve the six months at a halfway house.

DeMarino, a planning inspector for 17 years, pleaded guilty to filing a false 1985 income tax return, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Gregory A. Vega, who prosecuted the case. On the tax return, Vega said, DeMarino understated income by $6,110, then overstated deductions by $2,044 and expenses by $5,529, Vega said.

DeMarino also had been charged with filing a false 1984 return and trying to impede an Internal Revenue Service investigation of his tax liability, but those charges were dismissed after the sentencing, Vega said.