Phoenix Police Officer Indicted on Perjury, Harassment Charges

(Phoenix, Ariz. -- Jan. 14, 2010) The Attorney General's Office announced today that Phoenix Police Officer David H. Barnes, 42, of Anthem, and Jeffrey M. Pataky, 41, of Phoenix, have been indicted by the State Grand Jury. Barnes was indicted on charges of perjury, a Class 4 felony, and harassment, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Pataky was indicted on charges of perjury and false swearing, a Class 6 felony. 

Barnes, a 14-year Phoenix Police Department veteran, is a former homicide detective and patrol officer who is currently on administrative leave. He is accused of harassing two other members of the department through an anonymous letter and email communications. Pataky operates a Web site on which some allegedly harassing content was posted. 

The perjury charges relate to sworn testimony made by the defendants during a family court hearing last year that they did not know each other prior to Nov. 15, 2008, and did not have a personal relationship prior to that date, when evidence allegedly showed otherwise. 

The false swearing charge against Pataky relates to sworn statements he made that he did not own or manage an Internet site, when evidence allegedly showed that he owned or managed at least one site.   

The investigation was conducted by the Phoenix Police Department. A copy of the indictment is attached.