Which offense requires the false statement to be made during or in connection with an official proceeding and to be material?

• A. Perjury
• B. Aggravated Perjury
• C. False Report Regarding Missing Child or Missing Person
• D. Escape

Answer: (B)

Materiality of a false statement made under oath in an official proceeding defines aggravated perjury. The offense requires not only that you lie while testifying in a court or other official proceeding, but also that the false statement is material to the proceeding—meaning it could influence the outcome or the ruling. This combination—lying under oath in an official proceeding and the lie being material—is what sets aggravated perjury apart from other offenses. A false report about a missing child or missing person isn’t sworn testimony in a proceeding, and escape involves evading custody rather than making a false sworn statement.