Report: Commissioner James Matthews Arrested

Update: Ferman says Matthews faces up to seven years in jail for perjury and up to two years in jail for false swearing to the grand jury.

Update: Ferman: "We're not giving [Matthews] a free pass on lying."

Matthews is scheduled to be arraigned at 11:45 a.m.

Update: According to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman, Matthews told the grand jury that he did not have a relationship with Certified Abstract, a company the county solicitor instructed employees to use for farmland preservation sales. Matthews's mortgage company allegedly did business with Certified Abstract.

Update: Montgomery County Commissioner James Matthews has been arrested on charges of perjury and false swearing, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman.

The charges were detailed in a presentment issued by an investigative grand jury on Nov. 16. It was not immediately clear when or where Matthews was arrested, or why officials waited almost three weeks to effect the arrest.

The district attorney's press conference continues. We'll update this story as more information becomes available.

Initial story below.

Montgomery County Commissioner James Matthews has been arrested on a perjury charge, according to a report in the Norristown Times-Herald.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman has called a press conference scheduled for 10:30am. The district attorney's office said in a statement that Ferman will be announcing the results of an 18-month grand jury investigation into the County Commissioners.

Matthews was scheduled to lead a public hearing tomorrow morning on the county's proposed 2012 budget, which slashes the county parks department, library funding, and other popular county services. That hearing, which is expected to be heavily attended, is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow in Courtroom A of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown.

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.