Perjury

Also referred to as forswearing, perjury is the act of intentionally making false statements in sworn written testimony or under oath in a court of law. For an act of lying to be considered perjury, it also has to involve a misstatement that would affect the outcome of the case.

For example, a person who lies about his exercise habits would only be considered to be perjuring himself if this lie was a pivotal piece of information in determining a defendant's guilt or innocence.

Under the Penalty of Perjury

Perjury may also occur in any situation in which a person is instructed to tell the truth under the penalty of perjury. Filling out college applications and tax forms are two situations that typically carry the penalty of perjury and, therefore, would carry a perjury charge should the person filling them out intentionally make false statements on them.

In the U.S., perjury is a prosecutable offense that can carry up to a 5-year prison sentence and a fine of $2,000. However, for someone to be convicted of perjury, prosecutors have to be able to prove that the person who made the false statements intended to lie, rather than simply having been mistaken.

Interestingly, those involved in domestic disputes tend to be indicted on perjury charges more often than defendants facing other criminal charges.

Famous People Convicted of Perjury

Among some of the more notable people to have been convicted of perjury over the years are:

• Kim, an American rap artist
• Lewis "Scooter" Libby, an aide to both President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney
• Mark Fuhrman, an LAPD detective who worked the O.J. investigation
• Martha Stewart, an entrepreneur, talk show host and celebrity homemaker.

If You are Accused of Perjury

Meet with a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. During an initial consultation, criminal defense lawyers can:

• Inform you of your rights
• Give you advice on how to proceed with your defense
• Tell you about the outcomes of cases similar to your own

Given the complexity and intricacies of the legal system, it's a good idea for those facing perjury charges to enlist legal representation, rather than try to defend themselves on their own.

With the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer, defendants will:

• Get help gathering evidence and/or witnesses
• Be more likely to win their case, as public defenders tend to be overburdened

Perjury Defense

If you or someone you know are accused of perjury, contact the qualified criminal defense attorneys at Imhoff & Associates today. We will thoroughly investigate your case to build a solid defense, interview police and witnesses, provide emotional support to your loved ones, negotiate with prosecutors to minimize or dismiss charges, or help get your penalties reduced.

Don’t jeopardize your freedom. Please contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.