What is the Sentence for Perjury in Nevada? Criminal Defense Lawyer

What is the Sentence for Perjury in Nevada? Criminal Defense Lawyer

Hey there! My name’s John and I’m a criminal defense attorney here in Nevada. Perjury and subornation of perjury are pretty serious crimes that can totally ruin someone’s life if they get convicted. I wanted to write this article to help explain Nevada’s perjury laws and what the punishments and defenses are. I’ll try to keep it simple and conversational since this stuff can get kinda complicated.

First off, what exactly is perjury? Basically it’s when someone lies while under oath during an official proceeding like a trial or deposition. The legal definition says you have to knowingly make a false statement about something important to the case (1). Subornation of perjury is when you convince someone else to lie under oath.

So if you’re on the witness stand and say something false that you know isn’t true, that could be perjury. Or if you tell your friend to lie on the stand and say you were both hanging out when you really weren’t, that’s subornation of perjury. Make sense so far?

Elements of Perjury in Nevada

For someone to be found guilty of perjury here in Nevada, the prosecution has to be able to prove a few things (2):

• The person made a false or unqualified statement they knew wasn’t true
• They made the statement while under oath during an official proceeding
• The false statement was about something important to the case

It’s not perjury if you just make a mistake or get something wrong accidentally. You have to knowingly lie about something meaningful to the case. Subornation of perjury has basically the same elements, except instead of lying yourself you convinced someone else to lie.

Penalties for Perjury in Nevada

Okay, so what happens if you get caught committing perjury or subornation of perjury? Well, unfortunately it’s considered a pretty serious felony here in Nevada. Specifically, it’s a category D felony (3). That means if convicted, you could face:

• 1 to 4 years in prison
• Up to $5,000 in fines
• Restitution to any victims

And if there are aggravating circumstances, the judge can even give you up to 20 years in prison and a $5,000 fine! (4). So ya, you definitely don’t want to mess around with perjury charges.

Defenses Against Perjury

Even though perjury seems pretty straight forward, there are some good defenses a criminal lawyer like me can use to fight the charges (5):

• You made an honest mistake and didn’t intentionally lie
• Your statement wasn’t about a material issue in the case
• You misunderstood the question when testifying
• There’s insufficient evidence you knowingly lied

A good lawyer will look at all the evidence and your testimony to show why you didn’t actually commit perjury. If it was just an accident or unimportant detail, that’s not enough to convict you.

How to Avoid Perjury Charges in Nevada

The best way to avoid getting hit with perjury or subornation charges is to always be truthful when testifying under oath. I know sometimes there may be pressure from friends or family to lie and cover for them. But it’s just not worth facing felony charges and potential prison time.

If you’re ever asked to testify, be upfront with your lawyer about what you’re going to say. Don’t try to mislead the court or make up things that didn’t really happen. Tell the truth and let your lawyer handle the rest.

And of course, never ever pressure someone else to lie under oath. That subornation of perjury can land you in just as much trouble!

Get a Lawyer’s Help if Facing Perjury Charges

Being accused of perjury or subornation of perjury is really scary. A conviction can ruin your reputation and future job prospects. But an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help protect your rights and fight the charges. Don’t try to handle these cases alone.

If you or a loved one are facing perjury charges, give me a call today. I’ve helped defend these cases for over 10 years and know how to build a strong defense. Don’t leave your fate to chance. Together we can get through this!