A 41-year-old Sedona man arrested for impersonating a justice of the peace was convicted and sentenced Tuesday, Aug. 18, to twenty-five days in jail for attempted fraudulent schemes and criminal impersonation.

Judge Tina Ainley of the Yavapai County Superior Court also ordered Allen Elfman, pictured, to undergo intensive probation for five years, pay $1,000 restitution to his victims and perform 200 hours of community service.

  An investigation by the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office revealed Elfman advertised on his Web site that he was a justice of peace and that he could perform weddings.

In fact, evidence showed Elfman was not a justice of the peace, nor was he a properly ordained minister, and he had no legal authority to perform wedding ceremonies.  

Elfman performed two illegal wedding ceremonies, one in September 2007 and another in September 2008. Each of the couples involved were named as victims of these crimes and cooperated with the investigation.

Elfman, an Internet television entrepreneur, radio talk show host and former member of the Sedona Oak-Creek School District governing board, charged between $250 and $650 dollars to officiate at the weddings, investigators reported.

Elfman posted two wedding videos on the Internet, one showing him signing a marriage certificate and another in which he states he is authorized by Arizona to perform the ceremony.

Elfman told investigators he was authorized, based on credentials from the Universal Life Church, to perform weddings. Evidence showed he lacked proper credentials at the time the ceremonies were performed.