Analysis of Giving False Name, Address, or Birthdate to Police Officer After Recent Georgia News Story

Charles Freeman and Alesha Maahs were arrested in the early hours of the morning today after being pulled over and investigated by Gwinnett County authorities.

Freeman was driving a vehicle with a broken tail light which prompted the cop to pull the car over. Freeman allegedly handed over a fake license and as a result of the inaccuracies on the license, the cop called for backup. Maahs then allegedly handed the cop another fake ID that was expired and for man from Rockdale County. Both individuals finally gave the cops their real names and after running the names through their systems, authorities saw multiple active warrants from Gwinnett, Forsyth, and Barrow.

Both Freeman and Maahs are in Gwinnett County jail and have been denied bond according to reports. They are facing the following charges:

• Georgia Possession of Methamphetamine
• Violation of Probation in Georgia
• Georgia Burglary
• Georgia Shoplifting
• Georgia Manufacturing, Selling, or Distributing False Identification Documents
• Georgia Giving False Name, Address, or Birthdate to a Law Enforcement Officer

I will focus on the false information portions of their charges as the law behind crimes like Giving a False Name to a Law Enforcement Officer in Georgia can be confusing and is best explained by a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney. To put it simply, police officers and other officers of the law are here to protect our communities and everyone in them. Therefore, when someone gives them false information, it can impede their investigations. The state of Georgia has made it a criminal offense to give false information to the police.

Giving False Name, Address, or Birthdate to a Law Enforcement Officer in Georgia

Georgia law defines the offense of giving a false name, address or birthdate to a law enforcement officer as:

A person will be guilty of a crime when they give a false name, address, or date of birth to a law enforcement officer in the lawful discharge of his official duties with the intent of misleading the officer as to their identity or birthdate. O.C.G.A. §16-10-25.

If convicted of giving a false name, address, or birthdate to a law enforcement officer in Georgia will be guilty of a misdemeanor. The penalty can include a $1,000 fine, one year in jail, or both.

Practice Note

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I mention as frequently as I can the very basis of our criminal justice system in Georgia, which is that everyone has the presumption of innocence. The prosecution will have to prove an accused person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is why hiring a criminal defense attorney is of the utmost importance. Having representation that is experience, can properly understand what penalties you are facing, the laws in the state of Georgia, and the most applicable Georgia Criminal Defensesis the only way to ensure that you have the best chance of avoiding life-altering consequences.

If you or a loved one has been charged or accused of a crime in Georgia, contact us today.