This "scum" needs to go to prison... he is as corrupt as they come and is an affirmed Southwest U.S. "reconquista" -- go to the OC Register link for a picture of this "dirtbag"...


Plea deal likely in Nativo Lopez voter-fraud case, attorney says

By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
The Orange County Register
Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Nativo Lopez, an immigrant-rights activist and former Santa Ana schools trustee, faces 4 felony charges.

LOS ANGELES – An attorney representing Nativo Lopez, an immigrant-rights activist and former Santa Ana schools trustee facing four felony charges of voter fraud, said he and his client are still negotiating with prosecutors for a possible settlement, but he needs more time to review similar cases.

Lopez and his attorney, Edward Munoz, made a brief appearance in Los Angeles court this morning to set a hearing date of Sept. 22, which would allow the defense to review similar cases where prosecutors have agreed to a plea agreement, Munoz said.

"We're still hopeful we may be able to reach an agreement," Munoz said.

Lopez faces four felony charges of voter fraud, including allegations he used the address of an office building in Boyle Heights to register to vote in Los Angeles County last year, even though he was still living in Santa Ana.

Los Angeles County prosecutors allege that Lopez, a controversial figure in Orange County politics, registered to vote in January 2008 in Boyle Heights where he holds an office with Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, which he heads.

According to prosecutors, Lopez canceled his Orange County registration to be able to serve on the board of the Green Party of Los Angeles County.

But according to Munoz, Lopez spent 15 to 16 hours a day working in his Boyle Heights office, meeting the requirements to qualify it as a residence. Lopez slept at the office several times as well, he said.

Lopez's charges include fraudulent voter registration, fraudulent document filing, perjury and fraudulent voting. If sentenced, he could face up to three years and eight months in prison.

This is not the first time Lopez has faced controversy.

A congressional investigation found that Lopez registered new citizens in the congressional district where Democrat Loretta Sanchez won in 1996. The investigation found some voters voted before their citizenship was finalized.

In 2002, prosecutors alleged that Lopez used hundreds of thousands of dollars in education grants received by Hermandad Mexicana Nacional to pay for the mortgage of the Santa Ana headquarters. The organization agreed to pay a settlement of $600,000 but did not admit any wrongdoing.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lope ... eles-munoz