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Man who lied about MoH sentenced to VA work

LOS ANGELES — A suburban water official who lied about being a Marine and receiving the Medal of Honor was sentenced Monday to more than 400 hours of community service at a Veterans Affairs hospital.

Xavier Alvarez, 50, was arrested following his comments at a Claremont water board meeting last July. The Pomona man also told a former Marine in private that he won the medal for rescuing an ambassador in Iran, according to court documents.

Alvarez pleaded guilty in May to violating the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, which makes it a misdemeanor to lie about receiving a military decoration.

Alvarez, who could have been sentenced to one year in federal prison, was placed on three years of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. He must also perform community service once a week for one year at the Loma Linda VA Hospital.

Brianna Fuller, Alvarez’s attorney, said her client is sorry for lying about the medal but intends to appeal the decision. Fuller said Alvarez’s statements are protected by the First Amendment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian said Alvarez’s refusal to resign from the board of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District shows “he has not taken the crime seriously and shown sufficient remorse.”