A 27-year-old Foster City man accused of a November “swatting” attempt on a retired San Mateo County judicial officer who he told police “ambushed” him with rulings in previous court hearings is facing a maximum of one year in county jail after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor filing of a false police report Thursday, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Swatting is when someone calls police with the report of a false crime to create a hardship for someone else. On Nov. 16, Alexander Gounaropoulos is believed to have called 911 and told the operator his grandmother saw several masked men armed with guns forcibly entering the former judicial officer’s home. He allegedly refused to identify himself or say where he was, and police confirmed with the victim’s husband nothing happened, according to prosecutors.
The phone number used to make the 911 call was connected to Gounaropoulos, who had previously been a party in court hearings over which the victim presided. He allegedly told police who conducted a traffic stop on him that he was “ambushed” by the officer’s rulings, according to prosecutors.
Previously convicted of felony reckless evading of an officer and felony drunk driving, Gounaropoulos has been out of custody on his own recognizance and will next appear in court April 25 for sentencing, according to prosecutors.
His defense attorney Jeff Jackson declined to comment until his client’s court case has closed.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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