O'Malley Law Office, P.C. > Practice Areas > Witness and Victim Crimes in Fort Collins > Perjury Lawyer in Fort Collins and Larimer County

Perjury Lawyer in Fort Collins and Larimer County

Have you been charged with Perjury? Read more about your charges and how a criminal defense attorney can help you. Call the O'Malley Law Office today!
During court proceedings, honesty is very important. If a witness is accused of lying while under oath, either during official proceedings or in a statement to a government official, they may be charged with Perjury. In Larimer, Boulder, and Jackson County, Perjury can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on the circumstances.

What is First Degree Perjury in Fort Collins?

Perjury in the First Degree – C.R.S. 18-8-502 – is defined by Colorado law as:

A person commits perjury in the first degree if in any official proceeding he knowingly makes a materially false statement, which he does not believe to be true, under an oath required or authorized by law.

1st Degree Perjury is a felony offense in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park. This felony is charged when a person who has been sworn under oath lies during a trial. Because honesty is vital in court proceedings, any straying from the truth causes a disruption of the truth finding process and a potential injustice. It becomes exponentially more difficult to resolve a conflict when a person is dishonest, which is why this offense is treated so seriously. First Degree Perjury is a class 4 felony punishable by 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $500,000 in fines.

What is Second Degree Perjury in Boulder County?

The Colorado law definition for Perjury in the Second Degree – C.R.S. 18-8-503 – is:

A person commits perjury in the second degree if, other than in an official proceeding, with an intent to mislead a public servant in the performance of his duty, he makes a materially false statement, which he does not believe to be true, under an oath required or authorized by law.

2nd Degree Perjury is very similar to 1st Degree Perjury except that the lie does not occur during court proceedings. This crime generally applies to an untrue statement made on an official document. Many times on a government form like an income tax return, there will be a statement at the end that reads: “I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.” When signing and dating this form, you are verifying that all the information is correct. If any statements made on the form were lies, 2nd Degree Perjury charges may apply. As a class 1 misdemeanor, this crime is punishable by 6 to 18 months in Larimer County Jail.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”95%”]A Perjury conviction makes a significant mark on your criminal record.[/pullquote]

Why You Need a Lawyer When Facing Perjury Charges

A Perjury conviction makes a significant mark on your criminal record. Possible prison or county jail time aside, when a potential employer or landlord run a background check on you, they will see the Perjury conviction. Most people do not want to take on the risk of having a liar working for them, so they will decide not to hire you without any more investigation. If you are facing a 1st or 2nd Degree Perjury charge, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to defend you. There are defenses for this type of crime. Let us protect you and your future.

Request a Free Consultation

If you or someone you love has been charged with Perjury, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule a free consultation today. Together, we can protect your future.