Santa Maria Sun / News

Armijo sentenced to 90 days in jail

BY AMY ASMAN

An ongoing legal battle between Santa Barbara County and a former employee has finally come to an end—for now, at least.

On March 1, former 5th District supervisorial aide Gilbert Armijo was sentenced to 90 days in county jail as part of a felony perjury case. The 58-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in December 2007 and eventually reached a no-contest plea bargain with the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. County prosecutors, however, later charged him with perjury for stating at a Department of Motor Vehicles hearing that he wasn’t behind the wheel during the incident.

Acting as his own attorney, Armijo pleaded no contest to the charges last November. He later fought to withdraw the plea, claiming he was “badgered” by prosecutors to make the deal, and went on to file petitions of appeal with the California Superior Court and state Court of Appeals. Both of those petitions have since been denied.

In a recent interview with the Sun, Armijo said he hasn’t “filed any direct appeals” yet, but is in the process of contesting his case in federal court.

Armijo said the charges against him are “bogus” and were made because the District Attorney’s office has “a personal vendetta against [him].”

“The District Attorney had put everything on the line. They had to get a conviction,” he said. “That’s why I didn’t spend $60,000 to $70,000 on a lawyer, because it wouldn’t have made a difference … the conviction was already predetermined.”

Armijo must report to jail officials on June 8.