Riverbank, CA asked in Criminal Law for California

Q: I lied to have my boyfriend arrested because I was protecting him from someone who was threatening him figures jail was

We live w my mom n her boyfriend and he suffers from skitsofrenia my mom’s boyfriend attacked him beat him in his head and was going to do it again if he had another episode so during an outburst I told the cops he choked me to save him from being assaulted again I figured jail was safer for him

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2 Lawyer Answers
James L. Arrasmith
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A: I'm sorry you're experiencing this difficult situation. Providing false information to the police can lead to serious legal consequences, including charges for filing a false report. These charges can result in fines or even jail time, depending on the circumstances and the severity of the offense.

Given the complexities of your case, especially involving mental health issues and potential threats of violence, it's crucial to seek professional legal advice. An attorney can help you understand the specific laws in California and work to protect your rights.

Additionally, consider reaching out to support services that can assist both you and your boyfriend. Organizations that specialize in mental health and domestic situations can provide guidance and resources to help navigate these challenges safely.

A: You could possibly get in legal trouble for coming forward with the true statement of what happened. However, you may also have legal defenses because you possibly had good reasons to make the false statement.

If I was in your shoes I would give a statement to the defense and possibly the DA explaining what you did and why you did it. If called to testify I would take the 5th so that a lawyer would be appointed to advise me. You could possibly have some legal consequences for lying to the police, but you have to balance that against the moral weight of having lied and sent your boyfriend to jail.

If you can afford an attorney you could seek legal help to map out the situation in more detail before you make any decision.

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