Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence is defined as altering, destroying, or concealing a record or thing with intent to impair its verity, legibility, or availability as evidence in any subsequent investigation or official proceeding. Which offense matches this description?

• A. Tampering with Government Record
• B. False Identification as Peace Officer
• C. Resistance to Arrest
• D. Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence

Answer: (D)

Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence involves altering, destroying, or concealing a record or object with the intent to impair its truth, legibility, or availability as evidence in any investigation or official proceeding. That exact combination—an act on physical evidence plus a specific intent to undermine its reliability or accessibility—defines this offense. It targets the integrity of tangible items used to prove what happened, not merely documents or identity issues.

This is different from tampering with government records, which concerns government documents themselves, not necessarily a piece of physical evidence in a case. It also isn’t about falsely identifying yourself as a peace officer or resisting arrest, which are separate crimes with their own elements. So, the described conduct aligns with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.