A person commits false reporting to authorities if he or she knowingly makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities of a crime or other incident within their official concern when he knows that it did not occur; or he or she makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities pretending to furnish information relating to an offense or another incident within their official concern when he or she knows that he or she has no such information or knows that the information is false; or
He or she knowingly provides false identifying information to law enforcement authorities.
False reporting to authorities is a class 3 misdemeanor under the above circumstances.
False reporting to authorities can also be charged if a person causes by any means, including but not limited to activation, a false alarm of fire or other emergency or a false emergency exit alarm to sound or to be transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency which deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or
Prevents by any means, including but not limited to deactivation, a legitimate fire alarm, emergency exit alarm, or other emergency alarm from sounding or from being transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency that deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property.
False reporting is a class 2 misdemeanor under the above circumstances if it is committed during the commission of another criminal offense.
A false reporting conviction can have a negative impact on obtaining a job in the future. Since employers can easily run a criminal background check as a condition of employment, it is important to avoid pleading guilty to false reporting. A false reporting conviction can also be used against you by an adverse party to impeach your credibility in a separate unrelated matter.
If you have been charged with false reporting to authorities, you will need the advice of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney to help defend against these charges. Contact Sawyer Legal Group to schedule a free consultation today.
