In the False Report to Peace Officer offense, the false statement must be what to the investigation?

• A. Material to a criminal investigation
• B. True but misleading
• C. Irrelevant to the investigation
• D. Made under oath

Answer: (A)

Materiality to the investigation is what makes a false report actionable. The false information must relate to something the officers are investigating and have the potential to influence the direction or outcome of the inquiry. If the statement is false but about something irrelevant to what the police are trying to determine, it wouldn’t meet the element of materiality and wouldn’t support the offense. Also, the requirement is a false statement, not necessarily something made under oath, and not a true but misleading remark. For example, claiming the suspect was at the scene at a specific time and that claim is false and relevant to the investigation would be material; a false claim about an unrelated detail wouldn’t be.