Forgery

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Signing another person’s name or otherwise falsifying a legal document constitutes the crime of forgery. As technology continues to develop, criminals have found new and creative ways to create forged documents that appear to the naked eye to be real and legitimate.

Forgery can be a felony offense that carries steep penalties in Texas. In some cases, alleged offenders may have unknowingly presented forged items that they honestly believed to be authentic.

Attorney for Forgery Arrests in Georgetown, TX

If you were arrested or believe that you could be under investigation in Central Texas for an alleged forgery offense, it will be in your best interest to immediately retain legal counsel. Price & Twine, PLLC can conduct a thorough investigation and fight to possibly get the criminal charges reduced or dismissed.

Michael J. Price is an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Georgetown who represents clients accused of white collar crimes in Taylor, Hutto, Benton, Harker Heights, Leander, and many surrounding areas of Williamson County and Bell County. Call (512) 354-1880 today to have our attorney provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free, confidential consultation.

Overview of Forgery Crimes in Texas

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Forgery Charges in Williamson County

Under Texas Penal Code § 32.21, an alleged offender commits forgery if he or she forges a writing with intent to defraud or harm another. For the purposes of this statute, “forge” is defined as meaning:

  • To alter, make, complete, execute, or authenticate any writing so that it purports to be the act of another who did not authorize that act, to have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case, or to be a copy of an original when no such original existed;
  • To issue, transfer, register the transfer of, pass, publish, or otherwise utter a writing that is forged within the meaning of Paragraph (A);  or
  • To possess a writing that is forged within the meaning of Paragraph (A) with intent to utter it in a manner specified in Paragraph (B).

The term “writing” includes:

  • Printing or any other method of recording information;
  • Money, coins, tokens, stamps, seals, credit cards, badges, and trademarks; and
  • Symbols of value, right, privilege, or identification.

An alleged offender is presumed to intend to defraud or harm another if that person acts with respect to two or more writings of the same type and if each writing is a government record listed in Texas Penal Code § 37.01(2)(C). Governmental record is defined under that statute as meaning:

  • Anything belonging to, received by, or kept by government for information, including a court record;
  • Anything required by law to be kept by others for information of government;
  • A license, certificate, permit, seal, title, letter of patent, or similar document issued by government, by another state, or by the united states;
  • A standard proof of motor vehicle liability insurance form, a certificate of an insurance company, a document purporting to be such a form or certificate that is not issued by an insurer authorized to write motor vehicle liability insurance in this state, an electronic submission in a form described by Texas Transportation Code § 502.046(i), or an evidence of financial responsibility;
  • An official ballot or other election record; or
  • The written documentation a mobile food unit is required to obtain.

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Forgery Penalties in Georgetown

Forgery is classified as a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in state jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000 if the alleged writing is or purports to be any of the following:

  • Will;
  • Codicil;
  • Deed;
  • Deed of trust;
  • Mortgage;
  • Security instrument;
  • Security agreement;
  • Credit card;
  • Check;
  • Authorization to debit an account at a financial institution; or
  • Similar sight order for payment of money, contract, release, or other commercial instrument.

Forgery is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 if the alleged writing is or purports to be:

  • Part of an issue of money, securities, postage or revenue stamps;
  • A government record listed in Texas Penal Code § 37.01(2)(C);  or
  • Other instruments issued by a state or national government or by a subdivision of either, or part of an issue of stock, bonds, or other instruments representing interests in or claims against another person.

All other forgery crimes are classified as Class A misdemeanor offenses punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000. If, however, an alleged offense was committed against an elderly individual (a person 65 years of age or older), the alleged offense is increased to the next higher category.

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Texas Resources for Forgery Offenses

Georgetown Police Department | City Documents — Visit this website if you own or operate a business and want to download a forged check reporting form. Complete the form and return it with the check in question to the City of Georgetown Police Department to have it entered into record for investigation. Information that must be submitted on the form includes the address where the check was accepted, the date the check was passed, and the name of the person who accepted the check.

Georgetown Police Department
3500 D B Wood Rd.
Georgetown, TX 78628
(512) 930-3510

Special Crimes | Williamson County Sheriff’s Office — Forged checks are investigated by Financial Crimes Section Detectives with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. On this section of the Sheriff’s Office website, you can find more information about the Financial Crimes division and other special crime units. The website also contains links to external sources of additional information, including the section of the Attorney General’s website dedicated to frauds and scams.

Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
Criminal Investigation Division
508 S. Rock St.
Georgetown, TX 78626
(512) 943-1300

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Price & Twine, PLLC | Georgetown Forgery Defense Lawyer

Do you think that you might be under investigation or were you already arrested for allegedly committing a forgery offense in Central Texas? Do not make any kind of statement to authorities until you have contacted Price & Twine, PLLC.

Georgetown criminal defense attorney Michael J. Price aggressively defends individuals throughout Williamson County and Bell County, including Cedar Park, Killeen, Georgetown, Temple, Round Rock, and several other nearby communities. He can review your case and help you understand all of your legal options when you call (512) 354-1880 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.

 

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