A false accusation is a claim or allegation of wrongdoing that is untrue and/or otherwise unsupported by facts. False accusations are also known as groundless accusations or unfounded accusations or false allegations or false claims.

What should you do if you are falsely accused.
First of all, try not to get upset. It doesn’t help. You can calmly deal with the situation. If you are facing criminal charges, consult with a criminal defense attorney. As soon as possible, you want to gather and record your own evidence. “The truth shall make you free”. If you are innocent, hopefully you can prove it.

You want to take a long look at the accuser. Figure out why that person would want to accuse you. Maybe that person has some issues that would make them not credible.

When you meet with your attorney, hopefully you can develop a strategy to dispose of the issue as quickly as possible.

What is the punishment for falsely accusing someone?
In California, the crime of false accusations is a misdemeanor and you can be prosecuted for it. The penalties for giving false information to the police are up to six months in jail and possible fines. Depending on the circumstances, you could also be granted probation.

Can you sue someone who falsely accuses you?
You can file a  civil lawsuit for defamation of character via false allegations of a crime can come in two forms: slander and libel.

Civil lawsuits over slander or libel each target false statements which do harm to a person’s reputation. The difference is that slander involves oral or spoken statements made to a third party, while libel involves written, visual or Internet-based depictions which were published or publicly posted for others to read.

To establish slander in a civil lawsuit, you must prove that someone made the accusations against you while knowing they were false and did so with the intent of hurting your job standing or reputation.

For libel, your civil lawsuit must prove that the written or printed accusations against you were false and were made in a willfully defamatory manner — that is, with malice and intent.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.