Fleming Island Perjury Lawyer

Perjury is a criminal offense prosecuted as lying after taking an oath to tell the truth. Florida Statutes § 837 makes perjury more serious when the lies are told during official proceedings, which is when the subject is a legal matter before the court or state legislature.

Most people think of perjury as lying on the stand in court after taking an oath to be truthful, but charges can involve a variety of circumstances. If you face perjury charges, a Fleming Island perjury lawyer with the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., could review your case for free. Our criminal defense attorneys have more than 100 years of combined legal experience to get you the best outcome for your circumstances.

Is Perjury Just About Lying on the Stand During a Trial?

Although the most common understanding of perjury is lying on the stand at trial, prosecutors can choose to file perjury charges in several different settings. This has occurred when inmates die in state or local custody, and those in charge file false reports about what happened.

Sometimes prosecutors use perjury as a shortcut offense when other offenses are too difficult to prove or would take too much time. Perjury can serve as a “process” crime during obstruction of justice violations—they are easier to prove. For example, a complicated securities case would be harder to prove because jurors who do not understand insider trading laws would need a lot of guidance, while proving the defendant lied during an investigation is far easier. If you are charged with this offense, one of our Fleming Island perjury attorneys could offer you a free case evaluation and experienced guidance.

Penalties for Perjury

To determine the penalties for perjury, the state differentiates the type of proceedings during which you allegedly made a false claim. If you are charged with perjury during a court hearing or any official proceeding, a third-degree felony, you can spend up to five years in prison and face $5,000 in fines and possible probation.

If the official proceeding is a trial for a capital crime such as murder, you can be charged with a second-degree felony, which comes with a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Perjury associated with an unofficial hearing, such as lying to obtain a government permit, can land you in jail for up to one year with fines of up to $1,000. Perjury is a serious crime that can impact your future in several negative ways, such as the loss of your voting rights and the right to own a firearm. Our Fleming Island legal team could put our firm’s resources toward getting you positive results and peace of mind after you are accused of lying to the court or state.

Defenses to Perjury Charges

An accusation, charge, or arrest is not a conclusion. You are entitled to a competent defense, which our attorneys have a long track record of providing. Some defenses to perjury include:

• You were unaware that the statement you made was false
• You were coerced into making a false statement
• You admitted your statement was false, but it was not one that materially affected the outcome of the proceedings
• You did not intend to lie

These defenses could undermine the prosecutor’s case, which is one reason why they are so forceful in countering perjury charges. If you are accused of perjury in Fleming Island, our attorneys could advocate for you.

Contact a Fleming Island Attorney To Discuss Perjury Charges

A Fleming Island perjury lawyer with our award-winning, success-oriented legal team could explore the reason you were charged with perjury and look for credible solutions. Call the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., now to schedule your free case evaluation. Problems? Pick Porter!™