We’ve all been annoyed or scared of someone before. Sometimes people even think that the only way to get the person to leave them alone is by accusing them of a crime. Unfortunately, by falsely accusing someone of a crime, you are actually committing a crime in the process. If you are accused of making a false report of a crime, please call San Diego criminal defense attorney Peter M. Liss.
The Burden of Proof
The good news is that to be convicted of making a false report, the prosecution must prove that you were knowingly making a report with false information. This is why it is so important to always speak with a San Diego defense lawyer as soon as you believe you may be suspected of a crime. It is all too easy to accidentally admit that you knew an accusation was false without having a professional on your side to ensure you do not say anything that may incriminate you later.
Accusing someone of a crime you know they did not commit can result in additional charges if the matter was taken to trial and you testified against that person. In these cases you can face perjury charges on top of those related to making a false report.
Falsely Reporting a Crime
It’s worth noting that you need not point the finger at a particular individual to be charged with making a false report of a crime. If you simply say you were robbed when you weren’t, you can still be charged with this crime even if you don’t accuse anyone specifically. In fact, this crime is often charged along with insurance fraud as people will often make false crime reports in order to obtain insurance compensation for a loss that would not otherwise be covered. Material omissions in addition to false claims can also get you prosecuted for filing a phony insurance claim. Insurance companies have whole departments dedicated to uncovering fraud, so if you have any reason to believe that you may be under investigation, please call a defense attorney in San Diego as soon as possible.
If you have been accused of or believe you may be accused of making a false report to a police officer, please call (760) 643-4050 or (858) 486-3024 to schedule a free initial consultation with top San Diego criminal lawyer Peter M. Liss.
Creative Commons Image by Kendra Reese
