Alexander back in court for lying to judge

Friday, February 22, 2008

Less than three months after pleading guilty to stealing thousands of dollars in federal grant money, the former ombudsman for the Putnam County Sheriff's Department now admits to lying to a Putnam County judge in a separate case.

George Alexander, who has yet to begin his 18-month federal prison sentence, appeared in Putnam Circuit Court Friday morning where he pleaded guilty to one county of perjury.

The charge stems from a November 2005 appearance in small claims court where Alexander was sued by a friend for failing to pay back $4,000 in borrowed money.

According to transcripts from the 2005 case, Alexander told Judge Robert Lowe: "I don't have any money to pay it … I'm disabled. I volunteer my time at the sheriff's office."

Despite his statement to the judge, Alexander was actually being paid $18,000 a year for his work at the sheriff's department.

This week, Alexander appeared back in court with his attorney Bill Marsh and pleaded guilty to one charge of perjury, a class D felony carrying a sentence range of six months to three years.

"He testified falsely," Marsh told the judge about Alexander.

Both Marsh and Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter agreed to have Alexander immediately sentenced at Friday's hearing. The judge sentenced him to 180 days with the Indiana Dept. of Correction, to run concurrently with his 18-month federal sentence.

He also ordered Alexander to pay back the sum of $4,811 to the victim in his 2005 civil lawsuit -- this is in addition to the nearly $90,000 in federal money he was ordered to pay back early this month.

Bookwalter said he felt that despite the more serious federal charges against Alexander, he wanted to continue to push for the perjury charge to make a point that lying to a judge is a crime.

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  • There is not a statue of limitation on paying restitution.

    -- Posted by WONDER on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, at 11:49 AM
  • CastlePirate you are exactly right. Crime is crime and one should be held accountable and punished according to the law.

    Now, the law applies to everyone correct? So what about Sheriff Frisbie who also committed crime and also lied about it. Crime is crime, so when is he going to have to stand trial for his actions?

    Don't let the good old boy policy in this county sweep this one under the rug to be covered up and forgotten about. Remember this next time you cast a vote.

    -- Posted by duallydriver on Sun, Feb 24, 2008, at 9:27 AM
  • You should be held accountable for your actions no matter how much time has passed. It only shows that he would stand in front of one of his own peers and blatantly lie over 4 thousand dollars. Lets get with the program here. Hopefully Mark learned his lesson and will not put any other theifs in a position of power and greed. Mark should stand up and say something, rather than hiding behind everyone else to defend him.

    -- Posted by cmg071580 on Mon, Feb 25, 2008, at 2:54 PM
  • I'd like to know how a man at his age is going to pay back almost $95,000.

    -- Posted by cloverlady on Wed, Feb 27, 2008, at 8:07 AM
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