Los Angeles Obstruction of Justice Defense Attorneys
Fighting to Protect Your Rights After an Obstruction of Justice Arrest
Obstruction of justice charges may be filed against anyone whose behavior is alleged to obstruct a criminal investigation or prosecution. Because this offense is defined in such a vague manner, police will often use obstruction of justice charges to arrest someone who is simply questioning their actions.
State and federal obstruction of justice charges carry strong penalties that include significant jail time. And you can be convicted of obstruction of justice even if your actions have no impact. The intent to disrupt the legal process is all they have to prove.
Obstruction of justice charges can have a chilling effect on citizens who are carrying out their constitutional right to protest police and government actions.
If you were charged with obstruction of justice, contact the experienced Los Angeles defense attorneys at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP right away. Our team has earned a national reputation for protecting the freedom of defendants who were falsely charged by overzealous state and federal prosecutors.
Call (213) 688-0460 to schedule a case review today.
Charged with Obstructing a Police Officer in Los Angeles
The California penal code makes it a crime to “willfully resist, delay, or obstruct the official performance of duties of a police officer.” And federal courts have held that interfering with a police officer violates federal obstruction of justice statutes.
Police officers will often act as though civilians are legally required to answer all their questions and comply with every request they make. But this simply isn’t the case. You have the right to remain silent when you are being investigated.
Many actions that may annoy a police officer such as filming them or asking if there are any charges against you are perfectly legal. If you are arrested on charges of obstructing justice for interfering with a police officer, it doesn’t mean you are guilty.
Actions that may cause a defendant to be charged with obstruction of justice include:
- Lying to police during investigation
- Resisting arrest
- Providing misleading information to police
- Preventing an arrest
- Hiding evidence
- Attempting to bar free passage of a police officer
- Removing an officer’s weapon
- Slashing a police vehicle’s tires
- Distracting an officer who is guarding a suspect
- Taunting police who are attempting to pacify protesters
- Disrupt a public safety radio frequency
Obstructing a Prosecution and Federal Proceedings
State and federal statutes prohibit specific actions that interfere with law enforcement officials or the justice system. Federal law makes it a crime to intentionally obstruct elements of justice and criminal investigations or prosecution. This includes acts committed in regard to federal investigations, federal court proceedings, and proceedings before federal department agencies and committees of the federal government.
Actions that may be prosecuted as obstruction of justice include:
- Destroying or concealing material evidence
- Tampering with or intimidating witnesses, victims, or government informants
- Lying under oath (perjury)
- Bribing or threatening a judge, lawyer, juror, or witness
- Tampering with evidence
- Providing false evidence
- Offering to prepare false evidence
- Dissuading, preventing, or delaying a witness from testifying
- Falsifying or destroying documents
- Abuse of power to obstruct justice
- Paying witnesses to prevent them from testifying
- Paying witnesses to commit perjury
- Orchestrating unnecessary court delays
- Withholding records, objects, documents, or testimony from official proceedings
Were You Charged with Obstruction of Justice in Los Angeles?
Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP has been recognized for providing our clients with outstanding service by Super Lawyers. And we’ve been featured on CNN, CBS News, Fox News, CNBC, and the BBC.
Our Los Angeles federal crime lawyers will find the best strategy to get your charges reduced or dismissed. Call (213) 688-0460 to learn more today.
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