Update: Mayor Claudia Frometa announced Tuesday that the city will hire an outside law firm to advise the City Council on any potential action against Councilwoman Alvarez.

“The city is in receipt of the information that has been publicly released and the city has retained an outside law firm to provide this council with advice regarding that information,” Frometa said. “I also would like to let the residents know that typically cities do not require background checks on candidates and there's no legal requirement to do so. However, I have asked our city attorney to look at this issue and to advise the council. This matter is concerning and this is a serious matter. Therefore, I will not be making any additional comments on this issue. Any further inquiries will be referred to our city attorney's office.”

DOWNEY — Downey Councilmember Catherine Alvarez has a checkered criminal history, including charges of welfare fraud, perjury, and stealing from the Michaels crafts store at Downey Landing, according to newly-discovered court documents. 

Detractors of Alvarez discovered her criminal past last week and posted the charges on Facebook. Alvarez was elected to the Downey City Council in November, representing District 3. 

Court documents obtained by The Downey Patriot reveal that Alvarez was arrested by the L.A. County Public Social Services Department and arraigned March 12, 2014 on two felony charges: welfare fraud 10980(c)(2) and lying under oath 118(a).

Alvarez returned to court April 2 where the charges were apparently reduced to misdemeanors in exchange for a guilty plea. She was sentenced to three years probation, 75 hours of community service, and a fine.

Public court documents do not include specific details of the facts.

The judge also ordered Alvarez to pay restitution to the victims -- in this case the Social Services Department -- in the amount of $1,899 for Calworks and $1,371 for food stamps. 

Alvarez was back in court April 6, 2016 for a progress report. Represented by a public defender, Alvarez showed proof of completing her community service but still had a restitution balance of $48. 

Her probation was officially terminated on May 31, 2016.

Michaels

One year before the welfare fraud case, Alvarez was arrested by Downey Police for allegedly stealing from the Michaels store at Downey Landing. 

Alvarez was arraigned July 11, 2013 and charged with theft. Alvarez pleaded nolo contendre, a plea by which a defendant accepts conviction as though a guilty plea had been entered but does not admit guilt. 

Judge Ana Maria Luna convicted Alvarez and sentenced her to one day in L.A. County Jail, summary probation, five days of community labor, and fines totaling $904. 

She was also ordered to stay away from the Michaels store in Downey. 

Alvarez returned to court on April 16, 2014, where her probation was extended through Oct. 16 of the same year. 

On Sept. 22, 2014, a judge revoked Alvarez’s probation after it was discovered that she had not paid her fines or completed the community service. The following day, Judge Joseph Porras issued a $35,000 bench warrant for Alvarez’s arrest. 

Alvarez was back in court Oct. 14, 2014 where Judge Porras reinstated Alvarez’s probation. 

Alvarez petitioned to have the case dismissed on Nov. 19, 2015 but was denied. The case file was officially destroyed in 2019.

The Downey Patriot emailed Alvarez for comment but she did not respond.

Disclaimer: The author of this story, Eric Pierce, was one of three candidates for Downey City Council in District 3 last year.