NYC Cop Committed Perjury Before Grand Jury
Posted on Thursday, 19 of November , 2009 at 6:17 pm
BRONX—A New York City police officer has been convicted of lying under oath during his testimony before a grand jury.
Pedro Corniel, 31, pled guilty to a single count of third degree perjury, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail. The guilty plea was entered before State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett who set sentencing for Jan. 19.
Corniel admitted that he gave false testimony to the grand jury on Aug. 18, 2008 in connection with events leading to the arrest of a burglary suspect. According to court papers the perjured testimony pertained to the following exchange:
Question: What did you observe upon entering the house?
Answer: When I went in I heard noise coming from the basement.
Question: Is this inside 2282 Arthur Avenue?
Answer: Yes.
Question: You heard voices in the basement, what did you do?
Answer: I went down to the basement and I observed Mr. Williams. He was in the basement. He had a flashlight which was on. The flash light was inside his right pants pocket. He was holding a water meter.
Corniel later admitted to an assistant district attorney that he had not entered the basement at 2282 Arthur Ave., did not observe the burglary suspect inside the basement and did not observe the suspect holding a water meter.
Corniel’s admission that he had perjured himself was corroborated by other witnesses who were present at the scene of the burglary. As a result of Corniel’s perjured testimony, charges against the suspect were dismissed.
Corniel, who was assigned to the 48th Precinct, has resigned. 11-19-09
Category: Courts, Crime, Police
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