The 14 year old conducted a traffic stop and made house calls.
It’s a relatively unusual story: a California teen has been arrested for pretending to be a San Bernardino deputy sheriff. The fourteen year old boy had collected a sheriff’s uniform, a wig, counterfeit money, multiple ballistic vests, simulation firearms, and a red and blue flashing lights. He used some of these items recently as he made traffic stops and stopped at two houses.
The teen drove a white Ford Explorer that belonged to his great-grandparents; he had attached the emergency lights to the inside of the windshield, and removed the license plates. He first pulled a woman over for an alleged traffic violation, before “letting her off with a warning.” Next, he went to a home and claimed to be investigating a domestic incident. A 16 year old answered the door. Finally, he went to a home in Victorville, where he claimed that he was investigating a domestic disturbance. The couple stated that they had not called the police and that there was no disturbance. The teen then tried to open the door, but it was locked. The couple called the police, who then were able to apprehend the suspect. He was arrested and booked at a juvenile detention facility.
In California, impersonating a police officer is a misdemeanor offense. It can be charged even if no one was harmed by a defendant’s actions, or if the defendant received no benefit from the impersonation. According to a skilled San Bernardino criminal defense lawyer, to prove the crime of impersonating a police officer, a prosecutor must show that the defendant intended to fraudulently cause another person to believe that he or she was a police officer. This can be include:
- Willfully wearing, exhibiting or using the authorized uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card or writing of a peace officer, with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a peace officer or fraudulently inducing the belief that you are a peace officer;
- Willfully wearing, exhibiting or using the badge of a peace officer or a fake peace officer’s badge, with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a peace officer or fraudulently inducing the belief that you are a peace officer; and/or
- Willfully making, selling, loaning, giving or transferring to someone else any badge, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card or writing, which purports or appears to be authorized for use by peace officers.
As a misdemeanor offense, impersonation of a police officer is punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. However, as a San Bernardino criminal defense lawyer can explain, if a defendant uses a real or counterfeit badge, then the penalties increase to up to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000.
Although this type of crime is more unusual, particularly for teenagers, the potential punishments for it are very real — and serious. If you have been charged with impersonation of a police officer or any other crime in San Bernardino or the surrounding areas, the Chambers Law Firm can help. Contact our firm today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation.
