Crime & Safety
Former Irvine Cop Pleads Guilty to Overtime Pay Scam
The former officer was convicted of stealing $68,000 by claiming overtime hours he never worked.
SANTA ANA, CA — A former Irvine police officer pleaded guilty Wednesday and was immediately sentenced to a year in jail for stealing about $68,000 by putting in for overtime he never worked.
Matthew Christian August, 49, of Aliso Viejo, was also placed on three years of formal probation upon pleading guilty to 34 felony counts of presenting a false claim and two felony counts of grand theft by an employee.
He is scheduled to report on Aug. 20 to serve 364 days in jail.
Find out what's happening in Orange Countyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
August could have faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted at trial, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
August, who worked for the Irvine Police Department from November 2005 through Aug. 12, 2019, filed 34 time cards requesting overtime pay for hours he never worked, according to prosecutors.
Find out what's happening in Orange Countyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In June 2018, police officials noticed discrepancies between his overtime requests and the hours he worked, and he was charged the following summer.
— City News Service