If I "admit" to filing a false police report (and I'm 17 - a minor), what will happen?

Question

I'm a minor, 17 years old. In May my boyfriend (whom is 18) beat the c**p out of me. I didn't fight back. My father took me to the hospital and I filed a police report and got a temporary protective order against him. He was arrested and then released 2 days later. He got a restraining order against me, but I chose not to get one against him. We've got court on the 21st, I have a subpoena to appear as a witness. It's him against the state (I didn't press charges). I think his defense is that he didn't take his medication that week. We've been talking to one another since the incident. He hasn't taken the two plea bargains he's been offered since May, so he's trying to "prove" he's innocent. No one wants to see him get convicted. I believe he just needs therapy and probation. My question is if there's any way to save this. If I said I filed a false police report because I was drunk, or if I was drunk and can't remember the events that took place, what would happen to me? Keep in mind that I'm a minor and I have committed a felony once and had to do community service and probation. Don't know if that information helps or not.

Keep in mind that I do NOT wish for your opinions. I just want the facts.

Answer 1

Since he beat you badly enough that you needed to go to the hospital, they have the hospital records as evidence that he did indeed beat you.

If you are questioned under oath and lie then the statements you made on the day - which would normally be excluded as hearsay - become admissible as 'prior inconsistent statements'. This means the police report becomes admissible, anything you said to your father is admissible, anything you told the doctors is admissible, etc. Chances are that this will be enough to convict him even without your testimony.

At 17 you are old enough to be tried as an adult in most States. With one felony conviction on your record already, a conviction for perjury would be a 'second strike' that puts you only one strike away from 25-to-life in prison in most States.

Trust me - it's not worth it, especially since juries, as a general rule, see straight through beaten ex's claiming "I lied" or "I don't remember".

Richard

Answer 2

so, you're boyfriend beat you up, but you're going to forgive him and say that you filed a false police report? i know you don't want to know my opinion, but that is pretty much the stupidest thing that i have ever heard. your boyfriend beats you up and you want to take the blame for it? you'll probably go to jail if you say that you filed a false police report. and the drinking underage is not the most brilliant thing to blame it on. actually, none of this is brilliant. it's completely stupid. let him get punished for what he did. he deserves it! i really hope that you have enough self esteem to let this happen the way that it should.

Answer 3

Based in what you say.. the reality is that they HAVE evidence of it happening, and if you attempted to change the story (and say it was false), it would be totally clear what you are doing. Situations like yours, are very common.. and judges/ lawyers very familiar with the dynamics, including wives/girlfriends who don't want the guy convicted.

All of this is totally unrelated to what he needs/ does not need, etc. A false report is a crime .. and lying in court is perjury.  Either way you go, you are looking to hang yourself.  

ANY attempt on your part, to do anything except be honest, can land you in jail.  

Answer 4

That would be a crime sweetie, FALSE ALLEGATIONS! You are too close to being legal, if you decide to lie for a man who beat the **** of you then be prepared to suffer consequences like possible jail time or probation while he sips tea with a therapist. There is nthing you can do anyway its the state verses him, let him get what he deserves.

Wow honey he must of knocked the common sense out of you. You want cold hard facts and you got them. He doesnt belong in jail after he sent you to the hospital? He needs jail and his *** whooped like that.  Well your more then likely going to go to jail for trying to save his ***.