Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

                                 25 Kirkpatrick Street, 3rd Floor, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901 (732) 745-3300

 

                                *News Release*           Date: February 23, 2010

 
 

       

 

 

 

 

Two indicted on perjury charges

 

          Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan today announced that a grand jury has indicted two Perth Amboy residents on perjury charges, contending they gave false testimony during a murder trial last year.

 

          The grand jury, sitting in New Brunswick, handed up counts of third degree perjury against Carlos Jerez (DOB 1/6/86) and Mayreg Valdez, (DOB 10/3/88) both of Perth Amboy.

 

The indictment charged that Jerez gave false testimony on 22 occasions when he was called to testify on March 25 and March 26, 2009.

 

In addition, the panel accused Valdez of falsely testifying on 20 occasions when she was called to the witness stand on April 7, 2009.

 

The indictment was handed up February 19, 2010, following a presentation by Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin T. Flood.

 

The grand jury charged that both witnesses testified falsely to facts that were material to the outcome of the trial of Miguel Alvarez, (DOB 2/17/86) a Perth Amboy resident who was arrested and charged in the fatal stabbing August 26, 2007, of  Tony Martinez, 19, also of Perth Amboy.

 

Alvarez was arrested and charged with fatally stabbing Martinez during a dispute outside a fast-food restaurant in Perth Amboy.

 

Alvarez was acquitted of murder on April 28, 2009, but was found guilty of hindering his apprehension by discarding a knife and other evidence.

 

Alvarez is scheduled to re-tried on counts of aggravated manslaughter and two weapons offenses after the trial jury was unable to reach a verdict on those charges. No date has been set for the retrial.

 

The defendant remains in custody awaiting the retrial. As is the case with all criminal defendants, Alvarez is innocent until proven guilty.