Perjury

Riverside Perjury Defense Lawyer

Taking a sworn oath

Every person who testifies under oath, whether to a court or a branch of the government, in person and sometimes in writing, must tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Perjury is the crime of lying about or hiding important information while under sworn oath. Therefore it makes sense that to be convicted of perjury, the government must prove that a person took a sworn oath – an oath authorized by the law of the United States before a competent tribunal, officer, or person, and while under oath, that person knowingly made a false statement about material facts.

Examples of Common Perjury Charges

In a common example where perjury charges are brought, a person can commit perjury by falsely testifying before a court, or in front of a grand jury. However there are other circumstances where the crime of perjury can be valid such as signing and therefore swearing that information submitted in some documents such as tax returns or other legal documents is true and factual.

Punishment and Penalties for a Perjury Conviction

The penalties for a perjury conviction are rather severe. You could be facing thousands of dollars in fines, community service, and up to 4-years in state prison depending on whether you are a first-time offender or have a prior offense.

An experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to prove that you did not knowingly lie or omit facts. Obviously, a typical and acceptable legal defense might be that you misunderstood something or simply made a mistake. Your attorney may also be able to use the defense that relaying information can be very subjective and is dependent upon the memory and views of the person communicating the information, particularly in a witness testimony.

It is likely that you have many questions, and that you are stressed and frightened about both your future and reputation. Jeffrey Williams is an experienced and skilled criminal defense attorney who can answer all of your questions, and then work aggressively to protect your freedom and your pocketbook.