When you swear to tell the truth, you are not only ethically held to telling the truth, you are also legally obligated to do so. If you are caught lying under oath, you can be charged with perjury. This does not only apply to courtroom testimonies, but also to government documents, such as tax returns, driver license forms or governmental benefit applications, where you have sworn the information is true to the best of your knowledge.
This felony offense can result in up to four years in prison, fines and more. If you have been accused of perjury, it is critical you speak with a skilled Vista criminal attorney as soon as possible.
The most common defense to these charges involves arguing that you did not knowingly lie or omit facts. This may be because you simply did not know the real truth or because you misunderstood a question being asked of you.
It is important to remember that it is the prosecution’s responsibility to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you intentionally lied while under oath. Additionally, in order to be convicted, the statement must involve material facts, meaning facts that could affect the outcome of the thing you swore to tell the truth about. If they cannot do this using actual evidence, your lawyer can help ensure that you will not be convicted for this crime.
If you have been accused of perjury, please call the Law Office of Peter M. Liss at (760) 643-4050 to discuss your case.
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