Most everyone lies at one point or another but rarely is a person charged with a criminal offense just for lying. Unfortunately, if a person chooses to lie to the police, they could indeed face criminal charges. Read on to find out what you could be charged with, what the consequences could be, and how to fight charges of lying to a police officer. Then call (949) 585-9055 to schedule a free legal consultation with Law Office of Michael L. Fell.
The potential fallout for lying to a police officer
There is not a single law on the books that makes it illegal to lie to a police officer. Instead, it can be charged in a number of ways. Today we are going to go over three of the main options. Each of these violations come with the potential of up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000. Of course, they also result in having a criminal history which can affect your future employment.
The crime of giving false information to a police officer
This is a crime under California’s vehicle code and is a misdemeanor. It involves providing false information to a person that you either know is a police officer or should know is a police officer while they are preforming their duties. A person can be charged with this offense if they provide false ID, if they give a police officer false information about where they are going, where they have been or whether or not they have car insurance.
The crime of falsely reporting a crime
It is against the law to make a false report of a crime to a police officer. In this case, the prosecution must prove that the defendant knowingly gave a false report about a crime being committed or that they gave false details about a crime that was committed. For example, reporting that your car had been stolen when it was not, or lying about how much your property was worth if you were the victim of a burglary.
The crime of lying to federal agents
You can also be charged with lying to a federal agent, such as a member of the DEA or FBI. This is a federal crime that is described as falsifying, concealing, or covering up via trick, device, or scheme, or making a false, fraudulent, or fictitious statement or representation, or making any false writing knowing it is false to a federal agent. This charge can come up with up to five years in federal prison.
None of these charges are minor. None of these charges should be handled without the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Even if today’s penalty does not seem severe, remember that any conviction can lead to harsher consequences for any future charges. Note as well that it can affect your ability to get a job, live in certain places, or gain professional clearance or licensing. To find out what your options are, we recommend you contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for a free legal consultation.