Title: Destroying or Interfering With Evidence: Crimes, Intent, and Laws | CriminalDefenseLawyer.com
Headings: Tampering With Evidence
Tampering With Evidence
Tampering with evidence is the crime of altering, destroying, or concealing physical evidence with the intent to affect the outcome of a criminal investigation or court proceeding.
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What Is Tampering With Evidence?
Evidence
“Knowingly”
“Intent”
Evidence Tampering In Contemplation of Future Proceeding
Common Defenses to Tampering With Evidence
Lack of Knowledge
Lack of Intent
How Is Tampering with Evidence Punished?
Consult With an Attorney

Content: Here are a few of them. Lack of Knowledge
An individual who can show that she lacked knowledge that a damaged or destroyed piece of evidence was, in fact, evidence will be acquitted. If the janitor in the example above can show that she only worked at night, had no contact with the people in the offices she cleaned, did not know what business they were in, and had no information about their illegal activities, she can avoid a conviction. Lack of Intent
Even one who destroys or alters a piece of evidence but who did not intend to interfere with a governmental investigation or proceeding has not tampered with evidence. If Cheech had finished that joint in the normal way before he heard the police siren, he could not be charged with tampering with evidence. While it is true that he would have destroyed evidence of drug possession and use, his intention was to get high, not to hide the joint. How Is Tampering with Evidence Punished? The U.S. government takes tampering with evidence very seriously. A person who is convicted of the crime under federal law may face a prison sentence of not more than 20 years, a fine, or both. ( 18 U.S.C. § 1519.)