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Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-8-502 (2026)

Perjury in the first degree

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) A person commits perjury in the first degree if in any official proceeding he knowingly makes a materially false statement, which he does not believe to be true, under an oath required or authorized by law.

(2) Knowledge of the materiality of the statement is not an element of this crime, and the defendant's mistaken belief that his statement was not material is not a defense, although it may be considered by the court in imposing sentence.

(3) Perjury in the first degree is a class 4 felony.

Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 463, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 40-8-502. L. 77: (1) amended, p. 967, § 46, effective July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 38 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: People v. Zadra, 396 P.3d 34 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013).
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People v. Zadra, 396 P.3d 34 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 6× “¶ 38 Under section 18-8-502(1), C.R.S.2013, a person commits perjury “if in any official proceeding he knowingly makes a materially false státement, which he does not believe to be true, under an oath.”
People v. Bergerud, 223 P.3d 686 (Colo. 2010). · cites it 4× “Bergerud's lawyers clarified to the trial court that they did not intend to withdraw from the case, and further noted that they were "not prepared" to describe the relationship as "broken down to the point where [they could not] be effective as counsel for Mr.”
People v. Cardenas, 338 P.3d 430 (Colo. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 11× “43 The legislature enacted the predecessor to section 18-8-502 in 1977. Ch. 280, sees. 1-3, § 18-6-402, 1977 Colo.”
People v. Chaussee, 880 P.2d 749 (Colo. 1994). · cites it 7× “See § 18-8-502, 8B C.R.S. (1986). The trial court dismissed the first degree perjury charges and ruled that the false answers amounted to only second degree perju *762 ry.”
People v. Clark, 370 P.3d 197 (Colo. Ct. App. 2015). “" § 18-8-502(1), C.R.8.2014. T171 "Due process does not preclude a prosecutor from advancing alternative theories upon which a jury properly could convict one defendant in one trial.”
People v. Smith, 597 P.2d 204 (Colo. 1979). · cites it 6× “Smith appeals his convictions by a jury on charges of first-degree perjury (section 18-8-502, C.R.S.1973), conspiracy to commit perjury (section 18-2-201, C.”
People v. Kriho, 996 P.2d 158 (Colo. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “The contempt citation alleged that she should be held in contempt for: (1) disobedience to an order of the court, (2) obstructing the administration of justice, and (3) committing Perjury in the First Degree, C.R.S. 18-8-502, a class 4 Felony, by lying under oath to the Judge…”
People v. Cole, 584 P.2d 71 (Colo. 1978). · cites it 4× “evidence of a statement made in connection with, and relevant to, a plea of guilty, later withdrawn, a plea of nolo contendere, or an offer to plead guilty or nolo contendere to the crime charged or any other crime, is admissible in a criminal proceeding for perjury or false…”
People v. Schupper, 353 P.3d 880 (Colo. Ct. App. 2014). “2013; perjury, §§ 18-8-502(1) and 18-1-105(9.5), C.R.S.2013; attempt to influence a public servant, §§ 18-8-306, C.”
People v. Maestas, 606 P.2d 849 (Colo. 1980). · cites it 9× “Respondent, Frank Everly Maestas, was found guilty of first-degree perjury, section 18-8-502, C.R.S. 1973. The indictment charged him with having given materially false testimony before a grand jury.”
People v. Trujillo, 144 P.3d 539 (Colo. 2006). · cites it 2× “See § 18-8-502, C.R.S. (2006) (defining the crime of perjury in the first degree).”
People v. Drake, 841 P.2d 364 (Colo. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 3× “” Section 18-8-502(1), C.R.S. (1986 Repl. Vol.”
Show all 38 citing cases →
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-8-502(1) — 15 cases
People v. Zadra, 396 P.3d 34 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013). “¶ 38 Under section 18-8-502(1), C.R.S.2013, a person commits perjury “if in any official proceeding he knowingly makes a materially false státement, which he does not believe to be true, under an oath.”
People v. Clark, 370 P.3d 197 (Colo. Ct. App. 2015). “" § 18-8-502(1), C.R.8.2014. T171 "Due process does not preclude a prosecutor from advancing alternative theories upon which a jury properly could convict one defendant in one trial.”
People v. Chaussee, 880 P.2d 749 (Colo. 1994). “See § 18-8-502, 8B C.R.S. (1986). The trial court dismissed the first degree perjury charges and ruled that the false answers amounted to only second degree perju *762 ry.”
People v. Schupper, 353 P.3d 880 (Colo. Ct. App. 2014). “2013; perjury, §§ 18-8-502(1) and 18-1-105(9.5), C.R.S.2013; attempt to influence a public servant, §§ 18-8-306, C.”
People v. Drake, 841 P.2d 364 (Colo. Ct. App. 1992). “” Section 18-8-502(1), C.R.S. (1986 Repl. Vol.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-8-502(1)(a) — 1 case
People v. Cardenas, 338 P.3d 430 (Colo. Ct. App. 2014). “43 The legislature enacted the predecessor to section 18-8-502 in 1977. Ch. 280, sees. 1-3, § 18-6-402, 1977 Colo.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-8-502(2) — 1 case
People v. Cardenas, 338 P.3d 430 (Colo. Ct. App. 2014). “43 The legislature enacted the predecessor to section 18-8-502 in 1977. Ch. 280, sees. 1-3, § 18-6-402, 1977 Colo.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-8-502(3) — 1 case
People v. Wechsler, 854 P.2d 217 (Colo. 1993).
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