DE SB209

Creates new criminal statute § 1245A in Delaware Code Title 11 to criminalize providing false statements to law-enforcement officers during criminal investigations.

Defines the offense as knowingly providing any false, incomplete, or misleading written or oral statement to law-enforcement with intent to prevent, hinder, or delay investigation of any crime, when the statement is material to the investigation.

Establishes this as a class G felony if the crime being investigated is a felony, or a class A misdemeanor if the crime being investigated is a misdemeanor or other non-felony offense.

Specifies that "material" statements are those that could affect the course or outcome of a criminal investigation, regardless of eventual use or admissibility in official proceedings.

Addresses a gap in Delaware law by providing law-enforcement with a statutory tool similar to federal false statements laws to prosecute obstruction of justice cases.