Lexington Perjury Lawyer

Perjury charges are serious, and a felony conviction can leave you with a hefty fine – or even worse, jail time. If the state believes you provided false information in an affidavit or under oath, you could potentially face six months for the misdemeanor charge or up to five years in prison for the felony charge.

Judges have wide discretion at trials and sentencing hearings. Consequently, you may want a Lexington County perjury lawyer by your side from beginning to end. A well-trained defense attorney may be able to guide you through the legal process to help you seek the best possible outcome for your case.

Defining Perjury

Perjury means willfully providing false, misleading, or incomplete testimony during a criminal proceeding while under oath. Perjury laws do not just apply to criminal trials and other proceedings. They also apply to depositions and hearings – including grand jury proceedings.

During a trial or hearing, all witnesses must swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Thus, the perjury laws apply not just to the accused but to anyone who testifies on the stand. This includes police officers, experts, investigators, and all other witnesses in the case.

The perjury laws also apply to legal documents. For example, if the state catches someone making a false or misleading statement on an affidavit or another legal document, they could file perjury charges. The law also applies to college applications, tax forms, or any other document where the person signing swears or affirms to tell the truth. For more information about perjury charges, contact a seasoned defense attorney in Lexington.

Defenses of Truth and Entrapment

For perjury charges, the state must demonstrate the legal elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This translates into beyond a doubt based on ordinary reason and common sense. This means the individual facing the charges only needs to be able to cast doubt on the allegations that they lied under oath.

One way they may be able to cast doubt on the allegations is by showing the statements they made were, in fact, true or that they reasonably believed they were true. The accused may also be able to show the prosecutor set up – or entrapped – them, believing they would lie and without needing the information asked about. A perjury attorney in Lexington could assist a defendant with building a defense for their case.

Non-Defenses to Perjury Charges

A person may not claim they mistakenly believed the statement to be irrelevant or immaterial. Likewise, they may not claim that the official who administered the oath was not authorized to do so. These may not be valid legal defenses to perjury and may not help their case.

Let a Lexington Perjury Attorney Be an Advocate

Allegations of perjury can have a significant impact on both your personal and professional life. Therefore, you probably do not want to represent yourself at a trial or hearing. An experienced lawyer can be your ally.

A knowledgeable Lexington perjury attorney can review the facts and circumstances of your case and help to safeguard your legal rights. Call today for a free consultation.