Omitting vital pieces of information or slightly bending the truth when testifying in court is a serious criminal offense. If convicted of perjury, a person could be fined and sentenced to a period in jail or prison.
If you are facing perjury charges, speak with a Summerville perjury lawyer who could build a strong legal defense to fight accusations against you and safeguard your constitutional rights. Retaining an attorney means you could have someone advocating for your best interests and working to attain a positive outcome in your case.
Perjury Laws in Summerville
Perjury laws in Summerville can be found in sections 16-9-10 through 16-9-50 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Perjury is categorized as an offense against public justice. In addition to prohibiting perjury, the law also forbids subornation of perjury, as well as falsely swearing to tell the truth when being sworn in by a person authorized to administer oaths. Subornation of perjury involves convincing, pressuring, or persuading another person to commit perjury by providing inaccurate testimony or information.
Perjury is legally defined as purposefully providing testimony that is misleading, false, or incomplete while under oath. The same definition also applies to documents required by the laws of the state.
An attorney who handles perjury cases in Summerville could provide further explanation of perjury laws and answer questions about whether specific acts constitute perjury, subornation of perjury, or falsely swearing to be truthful.
Penalties for Committing Perjury
The penalties for committing perjury in Summerville vary based on the specific offense. Perjury or subornation that involves giving false testimony is a felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine in an amount to be determined by the court at the time of sentencing. Perjury or subornation of perjury that involves providing false information on a document or record is a misdemeanor and can be punished by confinement for up to six months and a fine of at least $100.
Subordination of perjury in civil proceedings, in which a person attempts to persuade another individual to give false testimony, is a misdemeanor. The penalties upon conviction include confinement for up to six months and a fine of $200 or more.
Falsely swearing to tell the truth by an individual authorized to administer oaths is a felony offense punishable by imprisonment of up to five years and a fine to be determined by the sentencing judge or court. A lawyer in Summerville who handles cases involving alleged perjury could answer questions about the penalties associated with the different forms of perjury.
Contact a Perjury Attorney in Summerville
Perjury is a serious criminal charge, but you do not need to face the charges on your own. A Summerville perjury lawyer could help you navigate the criminal justice and legal systems, and fight to get you a favorable outcome.
Instead of dealing with overwhelming legalities to figure out how to defend yourself against perjury charges, let an experienced attorney assist you. Contact an attorney for assistance with your case right away.
