Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.76
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.76.175 (2026)

Making a false or misleading statement to a public servant

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
A person who knowingly makes a false or misleading material statement to a public servant is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. "Material statement" means a written or oral statement reasonably likely to be relied upon by a public servant in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties.
[ 2001 c 308 s 2. Prior: 1995 c 285 s 32.]

Notes:

Purpose—2001 c 308: "The purpose of this act is to respond to State v. Thomas, 103 Wn. App. 800, by reenacting, without changes, the law prohibiting materially false or misleading statements to public servants, enacted as sections 32 and 33, chapter 285, Laws of 1995." [ 2001 c 308 s 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 308: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 14, 2001]." [ 2001 c 308 s 4.]
Effective date—1995 c 285: See RCW 48.30A.900.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 62 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case: State v. Ou, 156 Wash. App. 899 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Ou, 156 Wash. App. 899 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 21× “¶1 A jury convicted Sal Ou of knowingly making a false or misleading material statement to a police officer in violation of RCW 9A.76.175. Ou contends the State had to charge him with refusal to give a name or address, or giving a false name or address, under the specific…”
State v. Williams, 251 P.3d 877 (Wash. 2011). · cites it 5× “¶ 6 Williams was also convicted of obstructing an officer under RCW 9A.76.020: (1) A person is guilty of obstructing a law enforcement officer if the person willfully hinders, delays, or obstructs any law enforcement officer in the discharge of his or her official powers or…”
State v. Williams, 171 Wash. 2d 474 (Wash. 2011). · cites it 5× “¶6 Williams was also convicted of obstructing an officer under RCW 9A.76.”
State v. K.L.B., 328 P.3d 886 (Wash. 2014). · cites it 6× “was charged with making a false or misleading statement to FEO Brett Willet under RCW 9A.76.175, which provides that it is a misdemeanor to knowingly make “a false or misleading material statement to a public servant.”
In re the Disciplinary Proceeding Against Kuvara, 149 Wash. 2d 237 (Wash. 2003). · cites it 3× “160, and (4) making a false statement to a public servant in violation of RCW 9A.76.175. *244 Based on the same conduct, the hearing officer found several ethical violations.”
Matter of Disciplinary Proceeding Against Kuvara, 66 P.3d 1057 (Wash. 2003). · cites it 3× “160, and (4) making a false statement to a public servant in violation of RCW 9A.76.175. Based on the same conduct, the hearing officer found several ethical violations.”
State v. Budik, 272 P.3d 816 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 4× “RCW 9A.76.175 makes it a gross misdemeanor to make a false or misleading statement to a public servant if that statement is “reasonably likely to be relied upon by [the] public servant in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties.”
State v. Fedorov, 324 P.3d 784 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “” RCW 9A.76.175. Here, assuming the truth of the State’s evidence, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could infer that Fedorov acted with intent to commit the crime of knowingly making a false or misleading material statement to a public servant.”
In re the Recall of Feetham, 72 P.3d 741 (Wash. 2003). · cites it 2× “070, RCW 9A.76.175 and a violation of his oath of office.”
In re Disciplinary Proceeding against Abele, 358 P.3d 371 (Wash. 2015). · cites it 4× “As to count II, Abele argues that while substantial evidence may support the conclusion that she was not tripped, there is not substantial evidence that she subjectively knew that she was filing a false police report.”
State v. Ou, 234 P.3d 1186 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 21× “¶ 1 A jury convicted Sal Ou of knowingly making a false or misleading material statement to a police officer in violation of RCW 9A.76.175. Ou contends the State had to charge him with refusal to give a name or address, or giving a false name or address under the specific…”
State v. Wadsworth, 991 P.2d 80 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 2× “070(1) and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant in violation of RCW 9A.76.175. [28] Respondent Wadsworth on July 10, 1997 attempted a second time to enter the courthouse with his black bag.”
Show all 62 citing cases →
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.