LAKEPORT >> The first case brought to court by the Lake County District Attorney’s new Perjury Investigation Unit was delayed briefly this week when Defense Attorney Komnith Moth declared a conflict and was relieved by the court.
Merissa L. James is charged with Perjury, Two counts of Preparing False Evidence and a Violation of Probation. An investigation of alleged perjured testimony by the unit led to her arrest in August.
James allegedly submitted fraudulent documents to the court in an earlier case, according to District Attorney Don Anderson. The prosecution argues that James modified or created false probation report forms and testified to the validity of the reports, leading to perjury charges.
After Moth stepped down from the case, Defense Attorney David Markham accepted appointment as counsel in the matter.
Judge Michael Lunas presided over the Appearance of Counsel/Plea Entry Hearing, while Deputy District Attorney Daniel Flesch was present in court as well.
Following the substitution of attorneys, Lunas continued this Entry of Plea/Setting Hearing to Sept.20 at 3 p.m. in Department One. The defendant is ordered to be present.
