Being Charged with Perjury
Whenever you testify in court, you swear you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Lying under oath is a very serious offense. If you’ve been charged with perjury, you will need adequate assistance to help you through your case.Defining Perjury
The first thing you need to do is understand what exactly perjury is. Perjury is any act in which you intentionally lie while under oath. The law has been expanded to include perjury in any circumstances ranging from during a trial to a hearing to filling out your tax forms. In order to be considered perjury, several stipulations must be met. These include that the person had the intent to make a statement and they knew the statement was false. They were also under oath when they made the statement. Lastly, the statement must be a material fact which is anything that can dictate the outcome of a case. If all these are met, a person can be charged with perjury.Consequences
In most states, perjury is considered to be a felony. No matter the extent of the charges, it’s likely you will face time in prison as well as some hefty fines. On a federal level, you can face up to five years in prison. In the state of California, you have the potential to be sent to California State Prison for 2-4 years. Perjury charges can also be related to other charges. If you commit perjury in an attempt to cover up another crime, your perjury charges may be overlooked and you will instead be charged with conspiracy or aiding and abetting in a crime.Meeting with an Attorney
Proving that someone committed perjury in court can be very difficult. However, it’s still helpful to have an attorney on your side to defend you. Your attorney can help build your case to prove that you didn’t commit perjury or to lessen your sentence. They will determine which defenses are most beneficial to you and they can advise you on the likely outcome of your case. Whenever you encounter a legal matter, it’s wise to have an attorney. They are experts in the law and know what actions will best help your case. If you’ve been charged with perjury, you should contact an attorney. Working with experienced attorneys improves your chances. Click here to learn more about the Law Offices of Bradley Corbett and find an experienced attorney.
Bradley Corbett
Bradley Corbett is a criminal defense attorney in San Diego. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah in 2004. Later he enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego where he participated in a prestigious internship program with the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Since then he has handled over 2,000 cases.