The basics of forgery charges in South Carolina

When a person is accused of forgery here in South Carolina, they can face serious charges. Today, we’ll go over some common questions about such charges.

Is it a felony or a misdemeanor?

Under state law, forgery is generally a felony. The one exception is that it is typically a misdemeanor if the offense does not involve any dollar amount.

How much jail time could a person face?

This depends on how much money was involved in the alleged forgery.

Here are the general maximum prison sentences for forgery based on dollar amount involved:

• No dollar amount – 3 years
• Under $10,000 – 5 years
• $10,000 or more – 10 years

What other consequences can a conviction have?

There are a range of other ways being found guilty of forgery can heavily impact a person’s life. For one, it can expose a person to fines. Also, having a white collar crime on one’s record could have major implications for one’s professional reputation and employment opportunities.

Can forgery charges be fought?

A charge is a formal accusation, not a guarantee of conviction. So, being found guilty is not an inevitability. There are ways that charges of this crime can be contested. Some examples include challenging:

• Whether police acted properly in their investigation of the matter
• Whether the evidence prosecutors are bringing forward is accurate and was obtained properly
• Whether witness testimony presented is reliable
• Whether the prosecution has sufficient proof to support the charges

What routes would be available to try to break apart the prosecution’s arguments in a forgery case depends on the circumstances. Skilled defense attorneys can help people in South Carolina facing forgery charges understand their particular defense options.