District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced recently that Simi Valley resident Robert Galante, 47, was found guilty of two counts of felony workers’ compensation fraud for a claim for workers’ compensation benefits in 2002.

Galante was a powerline truck operator for the Glendale Department of Water and Power when he reported that he had suffered an unwitnessed ankle sprain on July 16, 2002. He continued working until he reported the injury on July 31, when he said the pain was too great for him to carry out his duties.

Galante asked to be seen by the Simi Valley office of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute and the city of Glendale’s Workers’ Compensation Program authorized him to begin treatments.

During four office visits, Galante told his treating physician that he was suffering too much pain and discomfort to return to work. After modified work duties were authorized, including office work, Galante claimed he could not drive from Simi Valley to Glendale without further damage to his sprained right ankle.

On Sept. 24, Galante was examined by his treating physician and as a result of his misrepresentations to the doctor about his injury, was kept off work.

On Oct. 4, Galante returned for another exam. He told his doctor that he was using a crutch “full time” and it was too painful to walk without the crutch.

Video surveillance taken the week of Sept. 23 revealed that the only times Galante walked with a limp or used a crutch was when he was walking into or out of his doctor’s medical building.

About six hours of video footage showed Galante walking without any visible impairment, and driving for extended periods around Simi Valley, doing yard work and stomping his feet. A private investigator testified that on two occasions, Galante was able to evade the surveillance by driving at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour on the highway while driving to Oxnard.

Galante faces a maximum of six years in state prison and a fine of $50,000 or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater, as well as restitution to the victim.

He will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Feb. 9 in courtroom 35 of the Ventura County Superior Court.