Nativo Lopez to fight voter fraud charges

By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
The Orange County Register
September 22, 2009

No plea deal reached between defense and prosecutors, attorney says.

LOS ANGELES – A settlement agreement between prosecutors and immigrant-rights activist Nativo Lopez – who faces four felony charges of voter fraud – could not be reached today and the case is expected to go to trial.

Lopez, who is national president of Mexican American Political Association and national director of Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, said the charges against him were groundless and he and his attorney planned to fight the allegations.

Prosecutors allege Lopez registered to vote in January 2008 in Boyle heights, where he holds an office with Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, even though he continued to live in Orange County. Lopez was previously registered to vote in Orange County, but allegedly changed his registration to serve on the board of the Green Party of Los Angeles County.

Lopez, a controversial figure in Orange County politics, faces charges of fraudulent voter registration, fraudulent document filing, perjury and fraudulent voting. He could face up to three years and eight months in prison.

Since July, Lopez’s attorney Edward Munoz stated he was optimistic he would be able to reach a settlement agreement with prosecutors in the case.

Appearing in a Los Angeles courtroom in August, Munoz said he needed more time to discuss details of a possible agreement with prosecutors, but today, he said a deal was off the table.

The main disagreement between both sides was whether Lopez’s would be affected by misdemeanor or felony charges, Munoz said.

“I feel the same as I’ve always felt about it – it’s bogus,â€