PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION TO AN OFFICER IN IDAHOE
Sometimes during a traffic stop, investigation, or other action taken by police officers, a decision is made by a witness or the suspect to be less than honest with an Idaho law enforcement official. Before you realize what has happened, you’re facing criminal charges for providing false information to an Idaho police officer, or worse yet, a resist and obstruct charge.
If you find yourself in this situation, you need a skilled criminal defense lawyer to help you explore your options. A criminal conviction can impact you for the rest of your life. Martens Law Office in Boise, Idaho, has extensive experience with these matters and will explore every option that is legally possible.
In Idaho, anyone who knowingly gives false information to any Idaho law enforcement officer, official, or government employee may be charged with a misdemeanor. It is also a misdemeanor to cause anyone else to give false information to an Idaho law enforcement officer.
The most common instance of “false information” occurs when someone gives a police officer false information regarding their identity. False information could be a fake ID, the person accused could have had no ID and claimed to have been someone else, or the classic example occurs between identical twins when one twin claims to be the other.
Idaho Penalties for Providing False Information
In Idaho, it is a general misdemeanor to commit the offense of providing false information to a police officer. The penalties carry up to a one-thousand dollar fine ($1000.00) and up to six months in the county jail. While these charges are less serious than many other misdemeanor crimes, such as a DUI, both the courts and the prosecutors tend to view the crime as aggravating. In other words, without an attorney representing you, there is a real risk that the prosecutor will ask for substantial jail time and ultimately, the risk that the judge will impose the jail time requested by the prosecutor. Neither the courts nor the prosecutors look favorably on any individual who they perceive to have wasted the time of a law enforcement official.
It is extremely important to mount a strong defense against any providing false information to an officer charge.
Martens Law Office has evening appointments available, offers free initial consultations, and accepts credit cards. If you would like to speak with attorney Jared Martens about defense against a providing false information to an Idaho officer, please contact the firm and arrange a free consultation. The firm’s lawyer and staff are committed to providing responsive and attentive client service. We can be reached at (208) 344-0994.
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Jared Martens, J.D. from Martens Law Office is a hard-hitting and experienced criminal defense lawyer who defends you and your family from aggressive prosecution. If you are being investigated or have charges pending, it’s time to find an attorney who is well-respected by clients, judges and prosecutors alike. Jared Martens is recognized as one of the preeminent Idaho criminal defense attorneys.
Martens Law Office provides legal representation for an extensive list of criminal charges and has helped hundreds of clients in Idaho since 2003.
