(This story has been updated with new information.)

Ventura County prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a Chatsworth man — and former local candidate. They say they submitted fictitious voter registration applications to election officials ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

Bruce Boyer, 63, appeared in court Wednesday on four counts of perjury, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release Wednesday evening. No plea was entered during arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court.

Boyer previously made local headlines when he attempted to run for Ventura County sheriff without any law enforcement experience, an attempt that was rejected by a state appeals court in 2019. Boyer most recently ran in the March primary for the 26th Congressional District seat held by Julia Brownley but did not advance to the general election.

Joey Buttitta, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, confirmed Wednesday that the defendant was the same Boyer who ran for sheriff.

Prosecutors accuse Boyer of submitting four fraudulent voter registration forms to the Ventura County Registrar in the months before the election. Each handwritten form attempted to register a fictional character to vote, the DA’s office said. Each form contained Boyer’s home address and was signed under penalty of perjury.