Orangeburg County Perjury Lawyer

It is illegal under both federal and state law for anyone to knowingly say something untrue in a sworn statement, deposition, form, or court testimony. Unfortunately, what qualifies as “knowingly” lying can be somewhat subjective, which sometimes leads to allegations of perjury that do not match up with a person’s true intentions.

Regardless of the circumstances that led to you facing perjury-related criminal charges, an Orangeburg County perjury lawyer could help you pursue a positive resolution to your case. With guidance from a defense attorney with experience handling cases like yours, you could have much better chances of proving in court that you did not actually perjure yourself or did not do so intentionally.

Addressing Perjury Allegations in Orangeburg County

South Carolina Code of Laws §16-9-10 is the section of state law that defines perjury as a criminal offense when it occurs during state court proceedings or with procedural matters at the state level, while 18 U.S. Code §1621 does the same for federal courts and documentation. Both statutes define the act of perjury as someone willfully and knowingly giving false testimony under oath or providing false information in an official government form or document.

Under state law, perjury in an official document is a misdemeanor offense for which a conviction could result in sanctions of six months in jail and a $100 fine at most. Conversely, perjury under oath in a South Carolina court is a felony punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years. Under S.C. Code §16-9-30, the act of false swearing while taking an oath is treated the same as perjury under oath in terms of possible sanctions upon conviction.

At the federal level, either form of perjury could result in a sentence of five years in federal prison, regardless of whether the statement in question was made within U.S. borders. An Orangeburg County perjury attorney could answer questions about and help build a defense strategy for either type of perjury charge.

What Constitutes Subornation of Perjury?

State and federal laws also criminalize the subornation of perjury, which entails convincing or compelling another person to commit perjury on behalf of the requesting individual. At both the federal and state level, someone convicted of subornation of perjury in the context of criminal matters may face the same consequences upon conviction that they would upon conviction for perjuring themselves directly.

Notably, though, South Carolina state law addresses subornation of perjury in the context of civil court litigation as a distinct criminal matter. Under S.C. Code §16-9-20, it is a misdemeanor offense—rather than a felony—for someone to willfully induce or persuade another person to commit perjury, make a false statement, or give knowingly incomplete or misleading testimony during a civil proceeding. A conviction may result in a jail sentence six months in length and a $200 fine at most, as a perjury lawyer in Orangeburg County could explain in more detail.

Seek Help from an Orangeburg County Perjury Attorney

Although perjury charges can lead to serious criminal and personal consequences, they are not impossible to contest both in and out of court. To do so effectively, though, you will almost certainly need help from a legal professional who has achieved successful results on behalf of others in your situation in the past.

A seasoned Orangeburg County perjury lawyer could provide the support and guidance you need to seek a fair case result. Call today to set up a consultation.