Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 575
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 575.120 (2026)

False impersonation

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  575.120.  False impersonation — penalties. — 1.  A person commits the offense of false impersonation if such person:

  (1)  Falsely represents himself or herself to be a public servant with the purpose to induce another to submit to his or her pretended official authority or to rely upon his or her pretended official acts; and

  (a)  Performs an act in that pretended capacity; or

  (b)  Causes another to act in reliance upon his or her pretended official authority;

  (2)  Falsely represents himself or herself to be a person licensed to practice or engage in any profession for which a license is required by the laws of this state with purpose to induce another to rely upon such representation; and

  (a)  Performs an act in that pretended capacity; or

  (b)  Causes another to act in reliance upon such representation; or

  (3)  Upon being arrested, falsely represents himself or herself, to a law enforcement officer, with the first and last name, date of birth, or Social Security number, or a substantial number of identifying factors or characteristics as that of another person that results in the filing of a report or record of arrest or conviction for an infraction or offense that contains the first and last name, date of birth, and Social Security number, or a substantial number of identifying factors or characteristics to that of such other person as to cause such other person to be identified as the actual person arrested or convicted.

  2.  If a violation of subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of this section is discovered prior to any conviction of the person actually arrested for an underlying charge, then the prosecuting attorney, bringing any action on the underlying charge, shall notify the court thereof, and the court shall order the false-identifying factors ascribed to the person actually arrested as are contained in the arrest and court records amended to correctly and accurately identify the defendant and shall expunge the incorrect and inaccurate identifying factors from the arrest and court records.

  3.  If a violation of subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of this section is discovered after any conviction of the person actually arrested for an underlying charge, then the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the conviction occurred shall file a motion in the underlying case with the court to correct the arrest and court records after discovery of the fraud upon the court.  The court shall order the false identifying factors ascribed to the person actually arrested as are contained in the arrest and court records amended to correctly and accurately identify the defendant and shall expunge the incorrect and inaccurate identifying factors from the arrest and court records.

  4.  Any person who is the victim of a false impersonation and whose identity has been falsely reported in arrest or conviction records may move for expungement and correction of said records under the procedures set forth in section 610.123.  Upon a showing that a substantial number of identifying factors of the victim was falsely ascribed to the person actually arrested or convicted, the court shall order the false identifying factors ascribed to the person actually arrested as are contained in the arrest and court records amended to correctly and accurately identify the defendant and shall expunge the incorrect and inaccurate factors from the arrest and court records.

  5.  The offense of false impersonation is a class B misdemeanor unless the person represents himself or herself to be a law enforcement officer in which case it is a class A misdemeanor.

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(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 2004 H.B. 916, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)

Effective 1-01-17

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1987–2013 · leading case: Laut v. City of Arnold, 417 S.W.3d 315 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013).
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Laut v. City of Arnold, 417 S.W.3d 315 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “Appellants' petition and motion for summary judgment also alleged that one of the City employees may have impersonated a law enforcement officer, which is a state crime under Section 575.120, but they do not discuss this claim on appeal.”
State v. O'TOOLE, 83 S.W.3d 622 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “1(1), 1 one count of false impersonation (Count II), a Class A misdemeanor in violation of Section 575.120, and one count of following another vehicle too closely (Count III), a Class C misdemeanor in violation of Section 304.”
State v. Slagle, 206 S.W.3d 404 (Mo. Ct. App. 2006). “See RSMo § 575.120 (2000). The evidence of his impersonation of a government agent indicates criminal liability for the uncharged offense of impersonating a government official.”
State v. Francis, 918 S.W.2d 356 (Mo. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 6× “Jaysun Francis was convicted of false impersonation, in violation of § 575.120, RSMo 1994. 1 Francis was sentenced to six months in jail, with a suspended execution of sentence, placed on unsupervised probation for two years, with the condition that he serve six days “shock…”
State v. Preston, 733 S.W.2d 846 (Mo. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “Appeal from misdemeanor conviction of false impersonation, § 575.120 RSMo 1986, and assessment of $200 fine and sentence of three days’ confinement.”
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