Can you talk to a lawyer about this?
I would say just to be very very apologetic and come clean with the cops, but if they have
wasted a lot of effort and taxpayer money and perhaps a guilty party has gotten away because of you - well, they have legal aid attorneys and if there is a law school in your area they sometimes can give you some helpful advice in clinics open to the public at very reduced or no charge.
The penalty would vary with the crime, and the crime is determined by the nature of the statement. For instance; Giving a false name or making a false police report are usually misdemeanors. On the other hand, if your statement was made to thwart a police investigation or an arrest, or you were falsely giving someone an alibi, it could amount to an Obstruction of Justice and the penalty could be more severe.
Yes. When you give a statement to the police, you make that statement under penalty of perjury. If you lie, you can go to prison for perjury.
It depends on the circumstances - if you told him you lived on "Smith Street" and you actually live on "Jones Street" probably not much, if anything. However, if the misinformation had to do with a criminal offense investigation you could be charged with Obstruction of Justice.
The penalty in the state of Florida for filing a false police report is charged with a misdemeanor and faces a penalty of a fine and or jail time depending on their past criminal history.
It depends, but the fullest extent you could be charged with Battery to a Police Officer which is a Class 2 Felony in Illinois with a penalty of 3-7 years and/or $25k fine.
Assault of a police officer.
Assault on a Police Officer is a felony crime in most jurisdictions I am aware of. The maximum penalty that can be imposed is set by your particular state's legislature.
Not necessarily against the law but - If it was discovered you'd been paid for your testimony, the opposing legal team could argue your statement was biased, and thus inadmissible as evidence ! Theoretically, you could be charged with wasting police time.
Depending on what you lied about the penalties vary. You could be fined $5,000 for submitting a false stolen car report. Or, you could be charged as an accessory for helping to cover up a crime.
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Death :(