The Criminal Defense Law Center of
West Michigan

Perjury

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Perjury Attorneys
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Perjury in West Michigan is treated as a serious offense because it destroys the integrity of our judicial system. Perjury charges are sometimes brought about as retaliation for failing to testify in a manner consistent with the theory of a Prosecutor’s case.

To prove perjury beyond a reasonable doubt the prosecution must establish that:

  1. The defendant was legally required to take an oath in a proceeding in a court of justice.
  2. The defendant took the oath
  3. While under oath, the defendant made a false statement
  4. The Defendant knew that the statement was false when he or she made it.

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Perjury Punishment In Michigan

Penalties for perjury can be very serious and depends on the nature of the matter in which the perjury occurred.  If Perjury is committed in an offense where the maximum penalty is life in prison, the punishment a prosecutor can pursue is life in prison.  If the Perjury is committed for an offense in which the maximum punishment isn’t life in prison, the maximum punishment for this felony offense is 15 years in prison.

If a person tries to get someone to lie under oath they could face up to 15 years in prison for Subornation of Perjury.

If a person tampers with evidence or offers false evidence pursuant to MCL 750.483a(6)(a), they can face up to four years in prison.  If a person tampers with evidence or offers false evidence in a case where the maximum possible punishment is over 10 years in prison, a person will face prison time of up to ten years.

Perjury is different from Filing a False Police Report because a statement to a police officer is not a sworn statement.  A false report of a felony is a four year felony.  A false report of a misdemeanor is a 93 day misdemeanor.  A false report of a child abduction is a four year felony.

When a person is charged with Perjury, Subornation of Perjury, Tampering With Evidence, Witness Tampering, Obstruction of Justice, Bribery, and/or Filing a False Police Report an aggressive and experienced lawyer is necessary.  These are serious criminal cases in West Michigan and The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan has the lawyers you need to defend your rights.

Popular Perjury Cases

Among some of the more notable people to have been convicted of perjury over the years are:

  • Lil Kim, an American rap artist
  • Marion Jones an Olympic Athlete
  • Jeffrey Archer a famous novelist
  • State Department official Alger Hiss
  • Nixon White House chief of staff John Ehrlichman
  • Lewis “Scooter” Libby, an aide to both President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney
  • Mark Fuhrman, an LAPD detective who worked the O.J. investigation
  • Martha Stewart, an entrepreneur, talk show host, and celebrity homemaker.
  • NBA star Chris Webber was accused of lying to a grand jury about receiving money from a booster when he was a college star at the University of Michigan. Webber pleaded guilty in 2003 to a lesser charge, criminal contempt, and was fined $100,000.

Attorney Shawn Haff of The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan recommends that people charged with any of the above-listed crimes, or any other crimes, remain silent and contact him asap at 616-438-6719.  The reasons for this are as follows:

  1. Defendants have a much better chance of getting reasonable bail or bond.
  2. Defendants have a much better chance at their preliminary exam
  3. The Defendants’s lawyer has a better chance to win the case at trial or get the defendant a better plea deal.
"When I needed help, Shawn assured me I would be ok. He explained the criminal process to me and got me outstanding results. I will use him again if I ever need his outstanding legal services. Thanks so much!"
Christy F.
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Criminal Defense Law Center West Michigan

Attorney Shawn Haff
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