In Pennsylvania, it is a type of White Collar Crime to make a false statement during a judicial proceeding. This White Collar Crime is known as Perjury. Per Title 18 Section 4902, a person commits Perjury if in any official proceeding he makes a false statement under oath or equivalent affirmation, or swears or affirms the truth of a statement previously made, when the statement is material and he does not believe it to be true. Fraud Falsification is material, regardless of the admissibility of the statement under rules of evidence, if it could have affected the course or outcome of the proceeding. It Is not a defense to prosecution that the oath or affirmation was administered or taken in an irregular manner or that the declarant was not competent to make the statement. Otherwise, there are several defenses to prosecution that can be used.
If you are facing perjury charges, there are a couple different defenses that your defense attorney may argue. It is a defense to perjury if you retracted the falsification in the course of the proceeding in which it was made before it became manifest that the falsification was or would be exposed and before the falsification substantially affected the proceeding. You will not be guilty of perjury if you retracted the falsification in the course of the proceeding in which it was made before it became manifest that the falsification was or would be exposed and before the falsification Federal Crime substantially affected the proceeding. If you commit perjury, you are committing a felony of the third degree. If you are found guilty of perjury, you face a potential penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment and/or fines up to $15,000. If you or someone you know is facing perjury charges, it is important to meet with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. A criminal defense attorney will best be able to evaluate the facts of your case and determine the best steps to take in order to produce the best possible outcome.