A South Coast police officer has been sentenced to sixty days of work release and three years probation after pleading no contest to insurance fraud.
Ventura County prosecutors say Santa Paula Police Officer Matthew Alonzo told insurance adjusters that he had witnessed a 2018 traffic accident, and didn’t know those involved.
They say he actually knew one of the drivers, who was a former Santa Paula Police officer. Investigators say the false claim led to the wrong driver being found liable for the collision. They say further investigation led to discovery of the misrepresentation, and reversal of the company’s decision.
Alonzo has been on administrative leave with the Santa Paula Police Department.
