23
Sep

Falsely Reporting a Crime Charge in Minnesota

Criminal Charges, Gross Misdemeanors / Misdemeanors

Falsely reporting a crime is a serious offense in Minnesota that can lead to long-lasting consequences. Due to the resources that are allegedly wasted in investigating false claims, prosecutors take these crimes seriously and often seek a straight plea to the charge. Together, the criminal sentence – which could be a gross misdemeanor – and the collateral consequences on finding jobs or housing with this conviction on a criminal record, a falsely reporting a crime charge is one that a defendant must be equipped with an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight this case.

Before getting into the consequences in more detail, let’s look at what constitutes falsely reporting a crime in Minnesota:

It is illegal to inform an officer that a crime has been committed or to otherwise provide information to an on-duty officer, knowing that the person is an officer, regarding the conduct of others, knowing that it is false and intending that the officer shall act in reliance upon it.

Minn. Stat. 609.505. While the State may have ease in proving that the alleged reported crime is false, the State will need to show that the defendant knew this at the time of the report and also intended for an officer to rely upon this false information. Proving knowledge and intent can be challenging, and often requires reliance upon circumstantial evidence.

A first-time offense is a misdemeanor. It becomes a gross misdemeanor if the defendant has a prior. Either entails possible jail and a significant fine. And, beyond the criminal consequences, this type of record undoubtedly has negative consequences on a persons life – namely, it is a serious red flag to prospective employers and landlords. It is critical to hire a defense attorney to both fight this case and guide you through it. While difficult, favorable plea negotiations can be obtained that both limit your criminal and collateral consequences.

North Star Criminal Defense is the team you need to fight this serious charge. Contact us today.