David Lebron facing trial next week on corruption charges accused his fellow officers and prosecutors today of setting him up on false charges.

suspended Spring Valley police officer facing trial next week on corruption charges accused his fellow officers and prosecutors today of setting him up on false charges.
Surrounded by advocates for black and Hispanic officers at a news conference, David Lebron provided a compact disc recording of his conversation in Spanish with a prosecution witness.Lebron and the witness, Juan Carlos, met in the Bronx in May, according to a 22-page transcript translated into English.Anthony Miranda of the national Latino Officers Associations of America said the audio recording had been given to prosecutors and other agencies. He said they wanted an independent investigation and would use the information against officers if they lied on the stand.The transcript outlines Carlos telling Lebron that Spring Valley police officers offered to assist him with his immigration problems if he would lie about Lebron.One of the underlying counts against Lebron is he coerced Carlos into filing a civilian complaint against a Spring Valley police officer.On the transcript provided by Lebron, Carlos contended that officers bribed and coerced him to lie about Lebron's involvement in the civilian complaint.Spring Valley police Chief Paul Modica and District Attorney Thomas Zugibe denied the accusations. Both said they could elaborate on grand jury testimony but add that a jury will some hear the evidence against Lebron and come to a verdict.Lebron, an officer for 10 years in Spring Valley and five years for the New York City Police Department, was charged with single felony counts of first-degree falsifying business records and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He also was charged with two misdemeanors of official misconduct and sixth-degree conspiracy.Among Lebron's backers today were officials with the National Latino Officers Association, Westchester National Black Police Officers Association, the Grand Council of Guardians.

Posted in: National Latino Officers Association