Which of the following is NOT an element of forgery?

Forged documents are typically defined by certain elements that must be present for a charge of forgery to be valid. In this case, one of those essential elements is the intent behind the act. When considering the definition of forgery, an essential requirement is that the individual must act with the intention to deceive, typically for the purpose of financial gain or to cause harm to another party.

The assertion that the defendant altered a document without intent fails to meet this critical criterion. Intent is a fundamental factor in establishing forgery; without it, the act does not constitute forgery. A lack of intent would indicate a different legal issue altogether, rather than meeting the elements necessary for a forgery charge. Thus, this choice accurately indicates an aspect that does not fit within the elements of forgery.

Other elements, such as intending to injure or defraud or actually forging a specific document, are integral to establishing forgery and support the legal framework surrounding it. Consequently, these considerations underscore why the lack of intent in the alteration of a document does not satisfy the requirements for forgery.