Georgia Mother Arrested After Reporting Child Missing

A peculiar story has made headlines in Cobb County. According to reports, mother, Jessica Prowse, was arrested on the following charges:

• False Statements in Georgia
• Cruelty to Children in Georgia
• Reckless Conduct in Georgia

The charges are related to an incident that occurred Saturday. There are not many details, but reports dictate that Prowse called and reported her son as missing. A Mattie's Call search was issued which is an emergency missing alert system for the disabled as the 11-year-old boy is a type 1 diabetic.

However, the boy was found a few hours later according to Smyrna police, and that was when the mother was arrested.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline one of the offenses that Prowse has been accused of committing in today's post.

False Statements in Georgia

The criminal offense of false statements is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-10-20 as:

A person will be guilty of making a false statement when they knowingly and willfully falsify, conceal, or cover up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; make a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of state government or of the government of any county, city, or other political subdivision of this state.

False statements is classified as a felony offense in the state of Georgia. Georgia Felony Punishments are never to be taken lightly. A felony conviction can not only change the course of a person's life but the immediate penalties are also life-altering. If convicted of false statements, an individual is facing up to five years in prison as well as fines up to $1,000.

However, just like any other crime in Georgia, there are instances where a person is wrongfully accused or arrested for false statements. This means that there are plenty of Georgia Criminal Defenses that may apply to a case.

These defenses include:

• The false statements were made accidentally.
• The false statements were a result of misinterpreting the situation or leaving out an important detail.
• The false statement was about a fact that the suspect was unaware that it was material.
• The false statement was not made to a governmental employee.

Practice Note

Since the details of this case have not been released, it is difficult to perform any analysis as to why Prowse was arrested on the charges stated above. However, just as I mention in every news report that I cover, just because someone has been accused of a crime does not mean that he or she is guilty of committing that offense.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney today.