Lakeport >> The Lake County District Attorney’s Perjury Investigation Unit concluded its investigation of in-court perjured testimony with the arrest of Merissa L. James on Wednesday. This is the first of an anticipated series of arrest for perjury, Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson announced.
The investigation unit had received information that James would be submitting false and fraudulent documents to the court in her own defense. Prior to her testimony, James took the oath to tell the truth under the penalty of perjury. Thereafter, James entered into evidence several written reports and testified she had signed and mailed these reports to the probation department early in 2016. However, those reports forms had been modified and were not created until after August, according to Anderson.
At the conclusion of the hearing James was arrested as she left the courtroom. She is charged with four felony counts including perjury, offering false evidence, preparing false documentary evidence, as well as a special allegation that she committed these new crimes while released on her own recognizance during the pendency of a felony matter.
Prior to the hearing, James had a recommended 30-day county jail sentence, Anderson said. Now, with the perjury charges, she faces up to six years in state prison. Deputy District Attorney Daniel Flesch, who is assigned to the special unit, will prosecute the case.
The Perjury Investigation Unit was formed in June, and the Lake County District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating other cases of suspected perjury. The DA’s office will continue to aggressively pursue that commitment, Anderson said.
