NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED OF PERJURY
Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 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 Perjury in the 3rd degree, a Class A Misdemeanor offense 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 January 19, 2010 in Part M 60.
District Attorney Johnson said: “We would hope that this case helps to get the word out that we will not turn a blind eye to this kind of conduct which jeopardizes cases as well as the careers of those who should know better. Testifying falsely under oath is not only illegal, it also undermines the integrity of our criminal justice system and the public’s confidence in our courts.”
Corniel admitted that he gave false testimony to the grand jury on August 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 Avenue, 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.
The case against Corniel is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Omer Wiczyk of the Rackets Bureau.
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