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The crime of faking a legal document, art, or signature.

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Forgery allegations can be potentially life changing. Forgery is considered a felony in all 50 states and Washington is no exception. Immediate consequences may include jail or prison time, significant fines, probation, or restitution. A forgery conviction on your record may also impact your ability to obtain housing or employment! Given the significant, devastating consequences involved, it is important to be familiar with forgery laws in Washington State.
Forgery Law:
You may be charged with forgery if you do one of the following with intent to injure or defraud ( RCW 9A.60.020):

1. Falsely make, complete, or alter a written instrument (RCW 9A.60.010), or

2. Possess, utter, offer, or dispose of a written instrument you know to be forged

Each factor of the law will be closely examined to determine whether the forgery charge meets grounds to be punished as a criminal offense:

Making, completing, altering, possessing, or using: A person must make, complete, alter, possess, or use a false writing to be convicted of forgery. Often when people think of forgery they mainly think of making false writings, such as checks or certificates. However, it is important to understand that altering an existing writing may also qualify as forgery if they affect the legal rights or obligations represented in the writing or document. Also, using or possessing known falsified writings also constitutes as forgery.

Written Instruments: Written instruments, as noted above, must have apparent legal significance to be punishable by forgery. It doesn't need to necessarily be a legal or government-issued document, but it must affect legal rights and obligations. Examples of documents that if falsified could be punishable by forgery are: drivers' licenses and passports, financial instruments (currencies, checks), wills, patents, deeds, medical prescriptions, letters of recommendation, physicians' notes, and works of art.

Intent to defraud: The law states you must have intent to injure or defraud in order to be convicted of forgery. The intent may be directed toward a person, a group, or a government agency. If you possess or sign falsified documents without knowing they are false, you should not be subject to forgery charges.
Penalties:
The fabricated or altered information on the document must be false, and must change the fundamental meaning of the writing itself, in order to constitute as forgery.

Forgery is a Class C felony. If you have no prior convictions on your record, you may be facing prison time of up to 60 days and fines of up to $10,000, in addition to a felony conviction on your record. With prior convictions on your record, the prison sentence could be up to 18 months.
Legal Representation:
A high value is place on legitimate documentation in today's society, both in terms of production and exchange. If documents are forged, there could be potentially significantly damaging consequences to individuals, groups, businesses, or even government entities. This contributes to why allegations of forgery are taken extremely seriously and why penalties are so severe.

We believe in your right to a second chance and we are committed to eliminating or minimizing the devastating effects a forgery conviction may have on the rest of your life. We believe you should have the highest quality of legal representation to protect your rights. With thorough understanding of the laws governing forgery, our knowledgeable, experienced attorneys can help counsel you on your options and will fight for the best possible outcome in your unique case. Please contact our experienced criminal defense attorneys today for a Free Legal Consultation.

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Forgery 101: Understanding the Laws and Penalties of Forgery in Washington State -

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Forgery allegations can be potentially life changing. Forgery is considered a felony in all 50 states and Washington is no exception. Immediate consequences may include jail or prison time, significant fines, probation, or restitution. A forgery conviction on your record may also impact your ability to obtain housing or employment!

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Burglary Stock Photos. Royalty Free Business Images

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Download burglary stock photos. Affordable and search from millions of royalty free images, photos and vectors.

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The illegal act of stealing from a place. In a burglary there is no victim present and no force is required to enter.

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Theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer.

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Charges of embezzlement against a former Hubert Volunteer Fire Department chief have been dismissed.

Matthew Tiernan Champney, 38, of Patriots Point Lane, Swansboro was arrested March 4, 2015, and charged by the North Carolina Department of Insurance with one count of felony embezzlement. One count of embezzlement of money from a local government was later added to his charges.

Champney was accused of using a debit card that belonged to the fire department for personal purchases and cash withdrawals totaling $ 17,282.70, The Daily News reported.

All charges have been dropped, according to Assistant District Attorney Kelly Neal.

The case showed Champney obtained money from the fire department illegally by not following standard policy, but due to the department not keeping complete and accurate accounts for years, including the years in question, the case has been dismissed, according to the reason for dismissal statement Kelly filed in Onslow County Superior Court. An audit dated Jan. 30 of this year noted a lack of documentation and receipts related to the department's finances.

"As such, the state cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt issues concerning the illegal taking of money by the defendant," Kelly wrote in the statement.

The charges against Champney were officially dismissed on Sept. 30, Kelly said.

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Embezzlement case dismissed due to incomplete records

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Charges of embezzlement against a former Hubert Volunteer Fire Department chief have been dismissed. Matthew Tiernan Champney, 38, of Patriots Point Lane, Swansboro was arrested March 4, 2015, and charged by the North Carolina Department of Insurance with one count of felony embezzlement.

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Theft of personal property or anything to be considered of value.

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GREENVILLE, Pitt County - ECU's head coach, Scottie Montgomery, announced Nhyre Quinerly was dismissed from the team after he was arrested Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Greenville Police Departments Public Information Officer Kristen Hunter, Quinerly was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle and larceny of motor vehicle parts.

Hunter said that on Wednesday, a stolen vehicle was located at Anderson and Sons Towing Company. Hunter said the car's tags were switched out with different plates that were also stolen. Hunter said Quinerly called the towing company saying the car belonged to him. An investigation revealed Quinerly did not own the car. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon and booked in the Pitt County Detention Center.

Quinerly was a redshirt freshman of the Pirate football program. Montgomery said the team dismissed him for disciplinary reasons.

"One of our top priorities is to promote responsible citizenship in our community and I emphasize those directives on a continual basis," Montgomery said. "While this behavior is contrary to the progress we've made, I think how we respond to issues such as this will say more about our program than the actions of an individual who chose not to act in a responsible manner."

Quinerly did not play in 2015 as a redshirt, but had participated in all five games this season as a member of the Pirates' special teams squad.

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GREENVILLE, Pitt County - ECU's head coach, Scottie Montgomery, announced Nhyre Quinerly was dismissed from the team after he was arrested Wednesday afternoon. According to the Greenville Police Departments Public Information Officer Kristen Hunter, Quinerly was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle and larceny of motor vehicle parts.

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The crime of stealing money through verbal threats. For example, blackmailing, threatening family members, and intimidation.

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(Newser) - In a scene resembling something out of a cheesy B-action movie, a man with his hands tied behind his back and a bag over his head fell out of a moving car on an Oregon highway over the weekend, the apparent victim of a kidnapping attempt. But investigators in Camas, just outside Portland, now say John McPhail was in on his own "abduction," all part of an attempt to extort ransom from his own mom, KOIN reports. The scene played out around 10am Sunday, when witnesses saw a car chase, then McPhail tumbling out of a silver Dodge Neon onto I-205, per Oregon State Police. When two other men who had emerged from the Neon saw there were witnesses gawking at the scene, they jumped back into the car and sped away, the notes.

The 57-year-old McPhail told cops he'd been taken against his will, and he was taken to a local hospital and treated while the police worked to hunt down the suspects, thinking there might be other victims. But by Monday morning, McPhail's traumatic tale had turned into a confession in which he admitted he'd set the whole thing up to procure a ransom from his mother (which, incidentally, she never paid, cops say). The police are now looking for the two men in the silver Neon, considered to be "witnesses," while McPhail is being held at the Clackamas County Jail on charges of initiating a false report and conspiracy to commit theft. (A New York man faked his own kidnapping because he was trying to avoid his girlfriend.)

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A Man Fell Out of a Moving Car on an Oregon Highway. He Said He'd Been Kidnapped

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In a scene resembling something out of a cheesy B-action movie, a man with his hands tied behind his back and a bag over his head fell out of a moving car on an Oregon highway over the weekend, the apparent... US News Summaries. | Newser

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Action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property.

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The crime in which the perpetrator is involved in shoplifting from a person or place. Many states consider robbery as theft of property or money taken with force. If a gun was involved, the perpetrator can be charged with armed robbery. Unlike burglary, robbery must include the victim being injured.

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Knowingly using fire or explosives to damage any property worth $150 or more without the owner's permission. Residential Arson: Knowingly using fire or explosives to partially or totally damage someone's residence. Place of Worship Arson: Knowingly using fire or explosives to partially or totally damage any place of worship. Aggravated Arson: Arson where: 1) the perpetrator knows that one or more persons are inside the building; or 2) where any person suffers great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement; or 3) where a fireman, policeman, or correctional officer on duty at the scene is injured.

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CHANDLER, Ariz. - Chandler police said they arrested a man for arson who was previously interviewed by 12 News for a story about a serial arsonist.

Thomas S. Leeper, 31, was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly starting four of the eight arson fires being investigated in his neighorhood.

Police say he is an "investigative lead" in the other four arsons.

The day before the latest fire Leeper is accused of setting, Leeper came to a community meeting held by Chandler police to address fears of a serial arsonist.

PREVIOUSLY: Chandler police investigating string of fires

Leeper cried while being interviewed, telling 12 News that he feared for the safety of his children after finding another neighbor's home burning late at night.

Leeper had also called 12 News to ask for coverage of the serial arson case.

According to court documents, Leeper confessed to two of the fires.

He told police he started one in his nextdoor neighbor's backyard by filling a syringe with gasoline and soaking a mop with it, before lighting it on fire. That fire charred the outside wall of a child's bedroom.

Investigators believe he then waited for fire crews to leave before writing, "FIND ME" on his own wall. He later told police and 12 News he believed the "arsonist" was targeting him because he had spoken out.

Leeper also apparently confessed to another fire, saying he couldn't fight the urge to start a fire and lit some leaves on fire with a lighter. That fire then spread to a fence and backyard.

No one was injured in any of the fires.

Court documents show Leeper also told investigators he had uncontrollable urges to start fires. Chandler Police said he had also spent time in a treatment center for fire starters as a child.

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Chandler police arrest arson suspect interviewed on 12 News

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CHANDLER, Ariz. - Chandler police said they arrested a man for arson who was previously interviewed by 12 News for a story about a serial arsonist. Thomas S. Leeper, 31, was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly starting four of the eight arson fires being investigated in his neighorhood.