School Cop Convicted for Fake Crime Story

LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles school policeman who falsely claimed he was shot on patrol, prompting an intense manhunt, has been convicted of fraud and other offenses for making up the story.

In a non-jury trial, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard H. Kirschner on Monday convicted Officer Jeff Stenroos of felony counts of planting false evidence, insurance fraud, giving false evidence, workers compensation fraud and a misdemeanor count of making a false report of an emergency.

He could face more than five years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 14.

The purported shooting on Jan. 19 prompted a massive police search for a gunman and led to 9,000 students being held in their schools for hours.