§ 4903. False swearing.
(a) False swearing in official matters.--A person who makes a false statement under oath or equivalent affirmation, or swears
or affirms the truth of such a statement previously made, when he does not believe
the statement to be true is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree if:
(1) the falsification occurs in an official proceeding; or
(2) the falsification is intended to mislead a public servant in performing his official
function.
(b) Other false swearing.--A person who makes a false statement under oath or equivalent affirmation, or swears
or affirms the truth of such a statement previously made, when he does not believe
the statement to be true, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree, if the statement
is one which is required by law to be sworn or affirmed before a notary or other person
authorized to administer oaths.
(c) Perjury provisions applicable.--Section 4902(c) through (f) of this title (relating to perjury) applies to this section.
Cross References. Section 4903 is referred to in sections 1310, 1518, 1602, 3905 of Title 4 (Amusements);
section 3505 of Title 5 (Athletics and Sports); section 15511 of Title 16 (Counties);
section 1714 of Title 25 (Elections); section 4110 of Title 27 (Environmental Resources);
sections 5552, 5947, 9543.1 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); section
2304 of Title 68 (Real and Personal Property).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
36
cases (
4 in the last 5 years), 1976–2026 · leading case:
Commonwealth v. Demarco, 809 A.2d 256 (Pa. 2002).
Commonwealth v. Demarco, 809 A.2d 256 (Pa. 2002).
· cites it 2× “§ 4902, two counts of false swearing, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903(a)(1), [2] one count of unsworn falsification to authorities, 18 Pa.”
Woods v. State Civil Serv. Comm'n, 912 A.2d 803 (Pa. 2006).
· cites it 2× “…involuntary demotion of a regular employe set forth the reason or reasons for the action. [1] 18 Pa.C.S. § 4902. [2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903(a).”
Commonwealth v. Slater, 363 A.2d 1257 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1976).
· cites it 4× “If the information given had proven false, the informant could have at least been prosecuted for violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903 [2] and 18 Pa.C.S. § 4906.”
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 487 A.2d 1320 (Pa. 1985).
· cites it 2× “§ 4902 (relating to perjury) or under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903 (relating to false swearing); (2) in a contempt proceeding for failure to comply with an immunity order; or (3) as evidence, where otherwise admissible, in any proceeding where the witness is not a criminal defendant.”
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 582 A.2d 336 (Pa. 1990).
· cites it 2× “§ 4902, two counts of false swearing in official matters, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903(a), and one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. King, 939 A.2d 877 (Pa. 2007).
· cites it 2× “Following Dickerson's PCRA hearing, the police arrested Appellee and charged him with perjury and false swearing, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903. After a jury trial, Appellee was convicted of one count of false swearing and six counts of perjury one count for each of the six falsehoods…”
Commonwealth v. Handfield, 34 A.3d 187 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011).
“§ 4902 (relating to perjury) or under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903 (relating to false swearing); (2) in a contempt proceeding for failure to comply with an immunity order; or (3)as evidence, where otherwise admissible, in any proceeding where the witness is not a criminal defendant.”
Commonwealth v. Swinehart, 664 A.2d 957 (Pa. 1995).
“§ 4902 (relating to perjury) or under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903 (relating to false swearing); (2) in a contempt proceeding for failure to comply with an immunity order; or (3) as evidence, where otherwise admissible, in any proceeding where the witness is not a criminal defendant.”
In Re Fortieth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, 191 A.3d 750 (Pa. 2018).
· cites it 2× “These statements are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903 [ (False swearing) ]. Counsel declined to accept these terms, however, and Appellants lodged a joint motion to strike the non-disclosure provision from the entry-of-appearance form.”
Commonwealth v. Polof, 362 A.2d 427 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1976).
· cites it 2× “334, § 1; 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903. [4] Of the thirteen items of requested discovery, the Office of the Special Prosecutor voluntarily supplied appellant with eight.”
EQT Prod. Co. v. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., 193 A.3d 1137 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018).
“or to fail to comply with any order or permit or license of [DEP], to violate any of the provisions of this act or rules and regulations adopted hereunder, or any order or permit or license of [DEP], to cause air or water pollution, or to hinder, obstruct, prevent or interfere…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4903(a) — 4 cases
Woods v. State Civil Serv. Comm'n, 912 A.2d 803 (Pa. 2006).
“…involuntary demotion of a regular employe set forth the reason or reasons for the action. [1] 18 Pa.C.S. § 4902. [2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903(a).”
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 582 A.2d 336 (Pa. 1990).
“§ 4902, two counts of false swearing in official matters, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903(a), and one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, 18 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4903(a)(1) — 5 cases
Commonwealth v. Demarco, 809 A.2d 256 (Pa. 2002).
“§ 4902, two counts of false swearing, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903(a)(1), [2] one count of unsworn falsification to authorities, 18 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4903(a)(2) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4903(c) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 582 A.2d 336 (Pa. 1990).
“§ 4902, two counts of false swearing in official matters, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4903(a), and one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, 18 Pa.”
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