Crackin' down on lyin' jurors

A man who didn't disclose during jury questioning that he was a convicted of a crime was arrested, and could face 10 years in prison. According to the District Attorney's Office:

LOS ANGELES - A former juror accused of twice lying under oath is due to be arraigned this morning on charges of perjury, the District Attorney's Office announced.

Manuel Basulto Soto, 52 (dob 2/28/56), is expected to be arraigned in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. He was charged in a felony complaint for arrest warrant Jan. 21 with one count each of perjury by declaration and perjury under oath, said Deputy District Attorney Amy Pellman Pentz of the Justice System Integrity Division. The complaint also alleges a 1981 felony conviction for arson.

Soto, who was arrested yesterday by investigators of the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation, is being held on $100,000 bail. He is charged in case No. BA351577.

Soto was a juror on a murder case in March 2008 when he allegedly committed perjury in his juror application and in his voir dire before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Pounders. Voir dire is the process of in-court questioning of jurors by judges and attorneys to narrow the pool of eligible jurors.

In his juror application, Soto purportedly failed to disclose his criminal past. Later, during voir dire, he continued to deny his involvement in any criminal matters when questioned by Judge Pounders, prosecutors said.

After learning about the defendant's alleged perjury, Judge Pounders dismissed Soto from jury duty - before the murder case reached the trial phase - and referred the matter to the District Attorney's Office.

If convicted as charged, Soto faces a maximum state prison term of 10 years.