Former San Fernando Mayor Faces Felony Forgery Charges
Former Mayor Jess Margarito faces felony charges for allegedly crediting friends and acquaintances with court-ordered community service they did not perform, authorities said Thursday.
Capping a three-year investigation by the San Fernando Police Department, prosecutors Monday filed forgery charges against Margarito, a longtime San Fernando power broker who also served as a city councilman and parks director. If convicted, he faces up to four years and four months in state prison.
“It smacks of elitist arrogance,” said Lt. Ernest Halcon of the San Fernando Police Department, adding that other former city employees remain under investigation.
The complaint alleged that Margarito signed documents verifying service work for three convicted criminals between April 29, 1992, and Dec. 21, 1993, while he was parks director. The San Fernando City Council fired Margarito from his parks job in January 1994, after details of the investigation became public.
Margarito could not be reached for comment Thursday, but in the past he has denied any wrongdoing.
Margarito was elected mayor by San Fernando’s first Latino-majority City Council in 1986. He resigned that post in 1990 to take the parks job.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
