Perjurio: Definición y Consecuencias en Virginia

Explicación Simple

El perjurio es cuando alguien miente bajo juramento. Si dices algo falso en un juicio o cuando firmas un documento importante, puedes ser castigado.

Es como si prometieras a tu amigo que no comiste su pastel y luego lo encuentras con migajas en la boca. Si mientes, podrías perder la confianza de tus amigos.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan quiere casarse con Ana, y para obtener la licencia de matrimonio, le dice al oficial que Ana tiene 18 años, aunque en realidad tiene 16. Si se descubre que Juan mintió, podría enfrentar cargos de perjurio.

Penalidades

El perjurio se considera un delito grave (Clase 5) y puede resultar en prisión y la incapacidad de ocupar cargos públicos.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 18.2-434 - What deemed perjury; punishment and penalty. If any person to whom an oath is lawfully administered on any occasion willfully swears falsely on such occasion touching any material matter or thing, or if a person falsely make oath that any other person is 18 years of age or older in order to obtain a marriage license for such other person, or if any person in any written declaration, certificate, verification, or statement under penalty of perjury pursuant to § 8.01-4.3 willfully subscribes as true any material matter which he does not believe is true, he is guilty of perjury, punishable as a Class 5 felony. Upon the conviction of any person for perjury, such person thereby shall be adjudged forever incapable of holding any office of honor, profit or trust under the Constitution of Virginia, or of serving as a juror. Code 1950, §§ 18.1-273 through 18.1-275; 1960, c. 358; 1972, c. 823; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 2005, c. 423 . Va. Code § 18.2-435 - Giving conflicting testimony on separate occasions as to same matter; indictment; sufficiency of evidence. It shall likewise constitute perjury for any person, with the intent to testify falsely, to knowingly give testimony under oath as to any material matter or thing and subsequently to give conflicting testimony under oath as to the same matter or thing. In any indictment for such perjury, it shall be sufficient to allege the offense by stating that the person charged therewith did, knowingly and with the intent to testify falsely, on one occasion give testimony upon a certain matter and, on a subsequent occasion, give different testimony upon the same matter. Upon the trial on such indictment, it shall be sufficient to prove that the defendant, knowingly and with the intent to testify falsely, gave such diff