Lawrence County Bribery Lawyer

Bribery is a form of corruption involving the act of providing money, goods, or other forms of compensation or benefit to a person in exchange for their engaging in a specific behavior in which the recipient would not otherwise engage. Soliciting such an arrangement can also constitute bribery.

A conviction for bribery can be accompanied with steep fines, imprisonment, and a lifetime of social stigma. If you are charged with bribery, your priority should be retaining experienced counsel to guide you through the criminal process and zealously represent you and your interests. A coherent legal strategy could begin with calling a Lawrence County bribery lawyer to help with your case.

In Lawrence County, Alabama, a person can be charged with bribery—a Class C felony—if they commit either or both of the following acts:

• They offer, confer, or agree to confer anything of value upon a public servant with the intent to alter the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgment, or other such action
• While serving in a public capacity, they solicit, accept, or agree to accept any such benefit accompanied by the agreement that their vote, opinion, judgment, or other such action will be corrupted

A criminal conviction for bribery is punishable by a prison term of one year and one day to 10 years in length. Additionally, a fine of up to $15,000 may be imposed. This is why it is essential for someone to obtain the services of a seasoned defense attorney.

Defending against a charge of bribery can be difficult, however, a bribery attorney in Lawrence County could assist with building a viable defense. One possible defense to the crime of bribery is entrapment, which occurs when a person is coerced by threat of harm into committing an act which they otherwise would not have committed. Courts, however, are often resistant to this defense and, absent compelling evidence may decline to instruct a jury on the defense.

Also, it is worth noting that the Alabama Criminal Code specifically states that the person who sought to be influenced being incapable or unqualified to act in the desired manner is not a defense to the crime of bribery. This scenario can apply to persons who have not yet assumed office, lacked proper jurisdiction, or were not situated in the correct position to exert the desired influence.

In the modern media-driven world, even the slightest sense of impropriety can be sufficient to stir up a hornets’ nest of accusations and discontent. Even without being formally charged with the crime of bribery, public accusations, benign yet mischaracterized behavior, or even vague suspicion can quickly boil up into a rancorous public uproar—which in turn can result in serious personal and professional damage.

Retaining experienced counsel to advise you on how you could potentially mitigate a conviction in both the court of public opinion and a criminal court may be an imperative first step to address allegations of bribery. Time may be of the essence, though, as getting ahead of potential accusations can often mean the difference between a brief public statement and a lengthy public trial.

If you are facing bribery accusations or formal bribery charges, take a proactive action to protect your future. Call a Lawrence County bribery lawyer today to schedule an initial consultation and get started on your case.