A motorcycle officer assigned to the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Traffic Division was found guilty on March 20 of lying about a motorist’s allegedly unsafe driving during a driving under the influence investigation in 2019.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced the conviction of officer Alejandro Castillo, who was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of filing a false report and perjury.

“When an officer lies in the course of their investigation it can have devastating consequences including wrongful incarceration and sometimes wrongful convictions,” Gascón said. “This is why my office takes perjury by law enforcement very seriously. We cannot have the people we entrusted to take away a person’s liberty lying in their official capacity. I am pleased that the jury saw the injustice in this case and the officer will be held accountable for his actions. I am also thankful for the hard work of the trial team who secured a victory in this case.”

On Oct. 18, 2019, Castillo pulled over a motorist in Hollywood for allegedly making an unsafe left turn. The driver was given a sobriety test and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Castillo filed a police report, claiming the driver made an unsafe left turn in front of oncoming traffic that nearly caused an accident. Body-worn camera video showed the driver waited for all vehicles to pass before making a left turn. Castillo filed a false declaration under penalty of perjury as well as a false police report, prosecutors said. DUI charges were not filed against the driver.

Castillo, a 15-year department veteran, has been assigned to home pending the outcome of an administrative investigation, read a statement by the LAPD.

Castillo faces up to four years and eight months in state prison when he is sentenced on May 12.