What Is Perjury?

Posted By The Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 16-Dec-2014

If you’re called to testify in a court of law, you’re required to tell the truth once you’re under oath. To issue false statements while under oath is known as perjury and it is a criminal offense. Other circumstances in which someone might be accused of perjury include when he or she is suspected of lying under oath during a deposition or lying on a sworn affidavit.

If you’ve been accused of perjury, you could be prosecuted on either the state or federal level. Under federal law, perjury is prosecuted as a felony, which means you can expect very severe penalties if you’re convicted. These include up to five years behind bars. In a state court, perjury may be classified as a felony or misdemeanor offense. As your criminal defense attorney can inform you, prosecutors usually have a difficult time proving perjury. It is a viable defense for someone accused of perjury to claim that they simply made a mistake while testifying under oath.

Jeffrey C. Grass, a criminal defense lawyer in Texas, provides exceptional legal representation to clients who have been accused of a wide range of criminal offenses, including perjury and aggravated assault. You can reach the Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass by calling .