Randy Madrid (left) appears in court with his attorney. (Photo by Kristen Spoon)
Randy Madrid, the Menifee City Council candidate who is accused of falsifying declaration documents for the District 4 race, entered a plea of not guilty Friday to four felony counts, including perjury.
Madrid, who appeared with his two attorneys before judge Jay Kiel, was in the courtroom only about five minutes during his arraignment. He entered not guilty pleas to two charges of perjury, one charge of falsifying voter registration, and one charge of filing a false declaration of candidacy.
The judge scheduled a Feb. 3, 2027 date for his felony settlement conference – the next standard step in such a criminal case. Meanwhile, he remains free on $30,000 bail.
Outside the courtroom after the hearing, this reporter asked Madrid for a comment on his case.
“Not for you,” he said before being led away by his attorneys.
Judge Kiel granted a request by Madrid’s attorney to delay the next court hearing for the maximum allowed 60 days and to grant a request to invoke Penal Code 277, which allows defendants to be represented by their attorneys without being present themselves. When Kiel asked the reason, Madrid’s attorney stated that Madrid might be out of town on business.
With the agreement of the District Attorney’s representative, Kiel granted the request.
Menifee 24/7 first reported on Aug. 22 that Madrid filed candidacy paperwork to run for Menifee City Council District 4 using a residential address where he did not live. Election rules require a candidate to live in the district he represents. Madrid signed a candidate intention statement stating that the District 4 address he listed was true, “under penalty of perjury.”
In an attempt to become eligible, Madrid registered as a voter using that false address in District 4 (northeast Menifee) at a residence he said he was hoping to purchase. Following an investigation, he was arrested on Sept. 14 and charged with four felony counts. Although he professed innocence, Madrid resigned from the Planning Commission and his name remains on the ballot.
The DA’s investigation indicated that Madrid did not live in Menifee throughout his entire 10 years on the Planning Commission. The City of Menifee, which is not legally required to validate addresses listed by a candidate, has since begun asking council and commission members for additional forms of identification, according to sources.
Madrid is listed on the ballot along with Frank Sandoval, who has been very active with the media and in attending public forums, and Daniel Stephens — who has ignored requests by the media to present a campaign platform or make any public appearances.
On Aug. 17 – apparently after learning he had been reported to the authorities by an outside party — Madrid asked City Clerk Stephanie Roseen if he could withdraw from the race. Once informed it was too late and his name would be on the ballot, Madrid told the following to Menifee 24/7.
“You would think damage control would be, ‘Let’s get you living in the district, so if you win, you can serve,’” Madrid said. (The Registrar) could easily say, ‘You’ve got an extension and are still eligible.’ I think I can win. It all depends on how it’s reported.
“If I stay on the ballot, I will have more popularity and people will know what I’m about. I’m going to have podcasts, I’m going to have social media … I’m out to educate the public.”
Text messages between Madrid and City Manager Armando Villa, acquired by Menifee 24/7 through a public records request, leave still unanswered questions about if, and how long, City officials new Madrid was serving without a Menifee address.
On Aug. 26 – four days after Menifee 24/7 broke the story – Madrid sent the following text to Villa, referring to Roseen and City Attorney Jeffrey Melching, whom he calls Melcher:
“I signed under perjury that if I won the election, I would accept the position. Stephanie (Melcher) is saying that I should lawyer up. Really? Careful what you ask for, you might get it.
“If this goes to court, it’s not gonna be pretty, and Stephanie is gonna be a proven liar and you’re gonna look like (expletive). You’re gonna look like you have no backbone, just like Melcher. I have protected you for a long time, and I will as long as I can.”
