After pleading guilty to a charge of false reporting, an Elizabeth teen was sentenced to 30 days in jail and given a $500 fine. On May 7, Cory Komar, 18, was sentenced after an internal investigation by the Elizabeth Police Department determined that a complaint made by Komar was fabricated.

On Nov. 22, 2008, Komar made a complaint a the Elizabeth Police Department regarding the use of excessive force by an officer. After being arrested the previous evening, Komar complained that the officer physically abused him, fabricated evidence and lost personal property belonging to Komar during the arrest.

The investigation, including a digital video of the event, determined that the complaint was entirely made up. Chief of Police Mike Phibbs said Komar made the complaint in at effort to deflect responsibility for his behavior that led to the arrest.

Komar had previously been arrested on charges of underage consumption of alcohol, obstructing an officer and violation of a protection order. He pled guilty to the violation of protection order and was sentenced to the jail time and fine. He also reached a plea bargain with the district’s attorney’s office concerning the other charges.

Komar admitted to fabricating his complaint during his hearing at the Elbert County Court House. The facts of the case were also presented with no contention or disagreement from Komar.

“The Elizabeth Police Department takes all complaints about officer conduct seriously. A strong sentence being imposed in this case was important,” Phibbs said. “Cory Komar wasted resources on a bogus investigation, damaged the reputation of the Police Department by repeating outlandish lies about abuse that never occurred, and could have potentially damaged the career of a very good officer.”

Komar is scheduled to begin serving his jail sentence on May 25 at the Elbert County Jail.