Orange County Sheriff’s Investigator to Face Trial for Filing False Reports- When Numbers Lie

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  - Janet Virginia Strong,  a former Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) investigator faces trial tomorrow for filing false reports by lying that she had been in contact with victims of serious crimes, including robberies and criminal threats, and that no further investigation could be done. Another argument for a closed loop corrective action process in law enforcement to break the union-lock

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office, Janet Virginia Strong, 53, is charged with six misdemeanor counts of filing a false report as a peace officer and faces a sentence ranging from probation up to six years in jail if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010
At the time of the crime, Strong was a 25-year veteran of OCSD, assigned to the City of Stanton. On Sept. 13, 2006, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she had contacted a victim in February related to a robbery in January of that year. She is accused of not returning the victim's call after he left Strong a message.
On June 20, 2007, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she had contacted the victim of a petty theft, but there were no additional "avenues for further investigation." She is accused of never actually contacting the victim. 
On Feb. 20, 2008, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that a robbery victim had not returned her calls, and therefore she was unable to conduct her follow-up investigation. She is accused of never actually contacting the victim.
On July 9, 2008, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she had contacted a victim and there were no additional "avenues for further investigation" related to a case of criminal threats from August 2006. The victim later said that he was told by deputies in uniform the day after the threats that an investigator would contact him. Strong is accused of never actually contacting the victim.
On March 17, 2009, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she had made several attempts to contact a robbery victim, but he had not returned her calls, and there were no additional "avenues for further investigation." She is accused of never actually contacting the victim.
On March 19, 2009, Strong is accused of filing a police report stating that she spoke to a female victim on Nov. 19, 2008, related to criminal threats made by the victim's ex-husband. She is accused of not contacting the victim until March 19, 2009. 
The OCSD began investigating this case after an audit of the defendant's cases revealed that Strong had included false information in some of her closed case reports. 



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