Bribery is a serious allegation that can result in jail time and fines, and is also a two-way offense. It is considered bribery if you try to encourage an official to take a particular action, and if you are an official who asks someone to give you something in exchange for taking action, it is also bribery.
If you have been charged with bribery, it can have devastating consequences. In addition to making you vulnerable to criminal penalties like imprisonment and fines, a bribery allegation can significantly impact the outcome of underlying matters. A Pickens County bribery lawyer like Christopher L. Jones could help you manage the bribery charge and mitigate its impact on other matters.
Understanding Bribery
There are several different situations where bribery could take place, and a Pickens County attorney who is skilled in understanding these nuances could explain how they might apply to your given situation:
Penalties for Bribing Legislative Officers
South Carolina Code § 16-9-210 addresses the giving or offering bribes to officers. The law specifies that whoever corruptly offers, gives, or promises a gift or gratuity to any officer with the intent to influence their behavior may be guilty of bribery. You can be imprisoned for up to five years and a fine of up to $3,000 if convicted. The officers included under the act include executive, judicial, and legislative officers.
Penalties for Officials
South Carolina Code § 16-9-220 addresses the flipside of the bribery allegations. If you are an official who corruptly accepts a gift, gratuity, or promise to do an act beneficial to the offerer, you face an even harsher penalty. You could be imprisoned for up to 10 years and face a $5,000 fine. Additionally, an official convicted of accepting a bribe is disqualified from holding public office, trust, or appointment. Accepting rebates or extra compensation is also a bribery offense under South Carolina Code § 16-9-230. The punishment for that offense is lower—a fine between $100 and $500 or imprisonment from three months to five years.
Penalties for Sheriffs or Officers
Taking a bribe not to take a particular action is also prohibited. South Carolina Code § 16-9-240 prohibits sheriffs or other officers from taking bribes not to perform duties. This offense is not subject to jail time but only a fine of up to $300. On the other hand, if a peace officer takes a bribe to perform an official duty, South Carolina Code § 16-9-250 allows for a fine and imprisonment from 30 days to six months.
Additional laws prohibit bribing jurors, arbitrators, umpires, or referees and bribing someone to get a public office. There are associated offenses for those who accept those bribes.
Discuss Potential Defenses to Bribery Charges
As a Pickens County attorney could explain, corruption is an essential element of bribery charges, which presents several opportunities for legal defenses. The government’s burden is to prove the allegations, and anything that challenges their evidence is a potential defense.
Entrapment is one of the potential defenses. Inducing someone to commit bribery can help them defeat a bribery charge. Likewise, if the evidence reveals that you were reluctant to accept a bribe, it can be a persuasive defense.
Sometimes, you want to challenge the state’s version of events. Bribery allegations are often he-said/she-said disputes. In those cases, it may be possible to disprove their theory of the case and the evidence they have to support their claim. Other times, you may agree with their version of events but deny wrongdoing. Giving or receiving a gift is not a crime, but the criminal element is that it is in exchange for a prohibited activity.
Speak to a Pickens County Bribery Attorney For Help With Your Case Today
Bribery charges have the power to derail your life completely. If you are an official charged with bribery, you may be placed on leave or lose your job while awaiting trial. Even if you are not the official, you may lose your job if you get charged with a crime.
Schedule a consultation with Pickens County bribery lawyer Christopher L. Jones. He can explain your charges, review the evidence, and explore potential defenses and remedies.
