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The Likely Charges in California

Depending on evidence, prosecutors have several options under California law:

• False Report of an Emergency (Penal Code §148.3): Knowingly making or causing a false emergency report is generally a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in county jail and up to $1,000 in fines. If the caller knew or should have known the response was likely to cause death or great bodily injury and such injury or death occurs, it is a felony punishable under 1170(h) and fines up to $10,000. A convicted defendant is also liable for the reasonable costs of the emergency response. Justia Law
• False Report of a Crime (Penal Code §148.5): Knowingly filing a false crime report with law enforcement is a misdemeanor (commonly up to 6 months in jail).
• Misuse of 911 to Harass (Penal Code §653x): Initiating 911 communication with intent to annoy or harass is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Justia Law

Sentencing exposure will turn on the specific charging mix and any prior criminal history. In this case, no injuries were reported, which weighs against the felony-injury enhancement in §148.3(b). Still, restitution of response costs is on the table under §148.3(e). Justia Law

When It Goes Federal

Although many swatting cases proceed in state court, federal charges can apply—especially if an interstate communication or a terrorism-type hoax is alleged. 18 U.S.C. §1038 (False Information and Hoaxes) penalizes conduct intended to convey false or misleading information about certain serious offenses, with penalties up to 5 years, or up to 20 years if serious bodily injury results. The Congressional Research Service specifically lists §1038 among statutes used in swatting cases. Legal Information InstituteCongress.gov+1

Why This Matters

Swatting isn’t a prank—it’s a public-safety landmine. The kinetic risk to bystanders, officers, and the swatted victim spikes when responders are primed for an active shooter. Here, LASD deputies determined the report was false and de-escalated—avoiding tragedy—but they still must devote investigative resources to chase an anonymous caller who forced a high-risk tactical response.

What Comes Next

Expect detectives to move quickly for preservation orders and subpoenas to lock down call-routing and account logs, triangulate any registered 911 location data, and track upstream carriers. If the caller used a spoofing app or VoIP portal, account and payment records—paired with IP logs—often identify the human behind the hoax. The enforcement message is clear: California’s statutes allow jail time, fines, and restitution—and if the facts fit, federal prosecutors have tools, too.

DDG has called the incident a near-death experience; his team says they will cooperate fully with law enforcement to find the caller.