Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 837.055 (2025)

False information to law enforcement during investigation.

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837.055 False information to law enforcement during investigation.—

(1) Whoever knowingly and willfully gives false information to a law enforcement officer who is conducting a missing person investigation or a felony criminal investigation with the intent to mislead the officer or impede the investigation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) Whoever knowingly and willfully gives false information to a law enforcement officer who is conducting a missing person investigation involving a child 16 years of age or younger with the intent to mislead the officer or impede the investigation, and the child who is the subject of the investigation suffers great bodily harm, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, or death, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.—s. 1, ch. 2006-142; s. 1, ch. 2012-53.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 837.055

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd

§837.055(1)OBSTRUCT CRIMINAL INVESTFALSE INFO TO LEO RE MISSING PERSON OR FELONYM · 1st

§837.055(2)OBSTRUCT CRIMINAL INVESTFALSE INFO TO LEO RE MISSING PERSON LT 16 YOAF · 3rd

§837.055OBSTRUCT CRIMINAL INVESTFALSE INFO TO LEO RE MISSING PERSON OR FELONYM · 1st

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases, 2008–2019 · leading case: In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report No. 2012-05, 131 So. 3d 755 (Fla. 2013).

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In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report No. 2012-05, 131 So. 3d 755 (Fla. 2013). · cites it 4× “32115 FALSE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT § 837.055(1), Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of False Information to Law Enforcement, the State must prove the following five elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 1.”

Anthony v. State, 108 So. 3d 1111 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013). · cites it 6× “Casey Anthony appeals her convictions for four counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer during a missing person investigation in -violation of section 837.055, Florida Statutes (2008).”

In Re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases—Report No. 2016-08, 211 So. 3d 995 (Fla. 2017). · cites it 2× “(Name of law enforcement officer) was conducting a [missing person investigation] [felony criminal investigation]. 2. (Name of law enforcement officer) was a law enforcement officer.”

In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases—Report No. 2007-08, 995 So. 2d 489 (Fla. 2008). · cites it 2× “3 FALSE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT § 837.055 Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of False Information to Law Enforcement, the State must prove the following five elements beyond a reasonable doubt: L (Name of law enforcement officer) was conducting a [missing person investigation]…”

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report 2018-14., 267 So. 3d 980 (Fla. 2019). · cites it 3× “To prove the crime of False Information to Law Enforcement Investigating a Missing Person 16 Years of Age or Younger Who Suffers *986 [Great Bodily Harm] [Permanent Disability] [Permanent Disfigurement] [Death], the State must prove the following six elements beyond a reasonable…”

Calvin Melvin v. State of Florida, 246 So. 3d 424 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018). · cites it 7× “§ 837.055(2), Fla. Stat. (2013). Thus, the plain language of the statute requires two elements: (1) knowingly and willfully giving false information to law enforcement during a missing child investigation, and (2) the child suffering great bodily harm, permanent disability,…”

Kelly v. State, 125 So. 3d 1046 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013). · cites it 2× “…in part, and remanded. ALTENBERND, CASANUEVA, and BLACK, JJ., Concur. . See § 827.03, Fla. Stat. (2011). . See § 837.055, Fla. Stat. (2011).”

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases—report 2016-12, 216 So. 3d 1281 (Fla. 2017). · cites it 2× “15 FALSE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT § 837.055(1), Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of False Information to Law Enforcement, the State must prove the following five elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 1.”

— 837.055(1) — 2 cases

In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report No. 2012-05, 131 So. 3d 755 (Fla. 2013). “32115 FALSE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT § 837.055(1), Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of False Information to Law Enforcement, the State must prove the following five elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 1.”

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases—report 2016-12, 216 So. 3d 1281 (Fla. 2017). “15 FALSE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT § 837.055(1), Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of False Information to Law Enforcement, the State must prove the following five elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 1.”

— 837.055(2) — 3 cases

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report 2018-14., 267 So. 3d 980 (Fla. 2019). “To prove the crime of False Information to Law Enforcement Investigating a Missing Person 16 Years of Age or Younger Who Suffers *986 [Great Bodily Harm] [Permanent Disability] [Permanent Disfigurement] [Death], the State must prove the following six elements beyond a reasonable…”

Calvin Melvin v. State of Florida, 246 So. 3d 424 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018). “§ 837.055(2), Fla. Stat. (2013). Thus, the plain language of the statute requires two elements: (1) knowingly and willfully giving false information to law enforcement during a missing child investigation, and (2) the child suffering great bodily harm, permanent disability,…”

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