Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyers on Your Side

When a police officer or other law enforcement agent questions a witness or suspect, he or she expects that the information given will always be true. If you are suspected of giving entirely or even partially false information to a public servant, you could be charged with a gross misdemeanor. According to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), a person who gives a false or misleading statement knowingly to a public servant could be found guilty. To prevent this from happening to you, don't hesitate to align yourself with a Seattle criminal defense attorney at our office.

This law refers specifically to “material statements,” which are generally defined as oral or written statements that could reasonably be relied upon by a public servant in his or her duties. If you are convicted of a gross misdemeanor, you could face up to one year in jail and $5,000 in fines. These punishments represent the maximum for a gross misdemeanor charge. If you have been charged with another crime combined with making a false statement to a public servant, you could face additional penalties for those offenses.

AVOID THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION

An attorney will be able to provide you with the advice and representation that you need if you have been charged with this type of offense. Even if you are innocent of any charges, it is still very important that you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after you learn that you are accused of providing false statements. Many people make the mistake of believing that they can "explain" the mistake to police or law enforcement agents. It is never more important to speak with a lawyer than when you did not commit the crime that you have been charged with. A confident and aggressive attorney like the ones at our law firm can help you build a solid defense. Contact us today.

Take the right step after being charged!  Call 206.209.0608