LAKEPORT >> After months of investigation, law enforcement officials now believe that a man arrested in April of last year on charges of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and burglary is innocent. They have now arrested his accuser for alleged perjury.
Jeremy Bryant was released from prison on Jan. 5, just two weeks before his jury trial was scheduled to begin. Last week deputies arrested Michael Anthony Arreaga, accusing him of filing a false police report, providing false information to a grand jury and other charges.
This case originated from a report on April 18, 2016, made to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office of a shooting in Lucerne. Arreaga told deputies that Bryant and “several other people” had forced their way onto his property through a security fence, then into the Arreaga residence.
Arreaga at the time suggested the suspects were there to rob his son, Jason Arreaga of marijuana and money.
According to Arreaga’s account at the time, he grabbed his rifle fearing for his son’s life and confronted Bryant. A struggle ensued and Arreaga reportedly told deputies that Bryant shot him in the leg.
Michael Arreaga’s story was corroborated by his son Jason.
Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson impaneled a Criminal Investigative Grand Jury as part of the investigation into this matter. Even after Bryant’s release from prison after nine months, Arreaga repeated his story.
On Jan. 27 of this year, Arreaga testified before the Grand Jury in the same manner and to the same facts that he had told sheriff’s deputies
During the course of the District Attorney’s investigation it was determined the truth was that during the altercation Arreaga did obtain a rifle but had accidently shot himself in the leg. It was also determined that Bryant never entered the Arreaga residence or struggled with Arreaga for the rifle.
Bryant remains free pending further investigation. If convicted, Arreaga faces a maximum sentence of six years in jail.
The District Attorney’s Office is continuing to actively investigate and prosecute perjury cases in Lake County. This is one of several cases currently being investigated and more arrests are anticipated.
