Legal Question in Criminal Law in Washington

Re: False statement and false accusation

False reporting is a crime under RCW 9A.84.040. It is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $5000 fine. The statute reads:

A person is guilty of false reporting if with knowledge that the information reported, conveyed or circulated is false, he initiates or circulates a false report or warning of an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, or emergency knowing that such false report is likely to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or transportation facility, or to cause public inconvenience or alarm.

I suggest consulting an attorney before talking to law enforcement officers. You are entitled to have a lawyer present during any questioning by police.

Re: False statement and false accusation

yes