Former Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon was sentenced Tuesday to 120 days in county jail for fraudulent voting and perjury.
Alarcon, 60, was convicted in July of charges stemming from accusations that he lied about where he lived so he could qualify for public office. In addition to jail time, he must complete 600 hours of community service and will be on probation for five years.
He is barred from holding another public office.
His wife, Flora Montes de Oca Alarcon, 49, was convicted of three counts, and acquitted on three others.
She was sentenced to 400 hours of community service and five years probation. She is also barred from holding an elected position.
Richard Alarcon faced seven counts of fraudulent voting, six counts of perjury by declaration and three counts of perjury in an application for a drivers license. His wife was charged with six felony counts: three counts each of perjury by declaration and fraudulent voting in elections in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Richard Alarcon, who has also served as a state senator and assemblyman, faced up to six years in state prison.
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Under state election law, a residence for voting purposes is defined as a permanent home where one intends to remain and return after an absence. The law does not detail how much time must be spent at the address for it to qualify as a "domicile."
Prosecutors argued that the Panorama City house that Alarcon and his wife claimed as their "domicile" appeared to neighbors, utility employees and mail carriers to be vacant. Prosecutors contended the Alarcons really lived outside the 7th Council District in Sun Valley.
The defense claimed that the prosecution had not even come close to proving the charges against the two. Defense attorneys argued that a Panorama City house the couple claimed as their residence underwent renovations and remained the couple's permanent residence because they planned to return there after construction.
Alarcon must surrender Dec. 10 to begin his jail sentence.
