Alleged Prank 911 Call Reported in Suwannee

Gwinnett County Courthouse

Suwannee, Ga. - According to authorities in Suwannee, a 911 call regarding a possible shooting at a local Gwinnett County residence is now believed to be a prank call.

Investigators and police are attempting to trace the call back to the source in order to find the person responsible for the call. The caller allegedly reported a shooting and said that someone had killed someone else. The suspect also said that the gunman was inside the residence and would shoot officers if they came to the scene. Suwannee alerted Gwinnett County which led to the arrival of the Gwinnett County SWAT team. They arrived at the residence to find out that no one had been hurt at all and there was no sign of any shooting.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will focus on the criminal offense of transmitting a false report.

Transmitting a False Report of a Crime in Georgia

Transmitting a False Report of a Crime in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-10-26. The law states:

A person who willfully and knowingly gives or causes a false report of a crime to be given to any law enforcement officer or agency of this state is guilty of a misdemeanor.

As the statute states, the offense is classified as a misdemeanor offense in the state of Georgia. This means that if a person is convicted of transmitting a false report of a crime, then he or she is facing up to 12 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.

There are, however, Georgia Criminal Defenses, that apply to a charge of transmitting a false report of a crime. These defenses include a lack of intent or knowledge concerning the truth of the report. For example, the person in the incident above could have truly believed that the report they gave was accurate.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, do not attempt to dissect the law yourself. Call our offices for our help. We can help you by providing a clearer understanding of what you are up against as well as letting you know what options are available through our firm.