Annapolis Bribery Lawyer
Allegations of bribery often dominate the news, particularly when it comes to politicians and other government officials. Bribery is a misdemeanor offense, but it has the potential for significant prison terms and thousands of dollars in fines. If you or a loved one is accused of a bribery offense, you should strongly consider seeking legal advice from an Annapolis bribery lawyer.
Bribery is a white-collar crime that involves gifts or rewards exchanged for favors, such as for influencing the duties and powers of another. In this situation, getting advice from an experienced criminal defense attorney may be helpful to you.
Bribery Offenses and Penalties
Bribery occurs when individuals give or demand something of value from another in exchange for some unlawful benefit. Most commonly, the benefit is related to the job or position of the individual. Whether individuals are the ones offering, giving, or accepting the bribe, they all are equally subject to Maryland bribery laws.
Bribery is a misdemeanor offense, but the penalties for a bribery conviction are often more severe than those that individuals might receive for other misdemeanor convictions. Depending on the nature of the offense, individuals may serve between six months and 12 years in jail or prison and be ordered to pay a fine ranging from $100 to $10,000.
Individuals convicted of bribery may experience additional repercussions. For example, individuals convicted of bribery of a juror no longer can serve on a jury in the state. As a result of the potential severity of these penalties, individuals may want to seek legal advice from an accomplished defense lawyer.
Bribery of a Public Official
Bribery of a public official is one of the most common types of bribery. Pursuant to Md. Code, Crim. Law §9-201, individuals may not bribe or attempt to bribe public officials in order to influence the performance of their official duties. Likewise, public officials may not demand or receive a bribe to influence the performance of their official duties or neglect or fail to perform their official duties.
Public officials include employees of the state or any political subdivision of the state, such as a town, city, or county. The conviction for bribery of a public employee or official can result in a sentence of imprisonment of two to 12 years and a fine of $1,000 to $10,000.
Additional consequences of a bribery of a public employee conviction may include an inability to vote or hold public office or any office of trust or profit in the future. Since the repercussions of a bribery conviction can be quite serious, individuals facing these charges should consider the consulting an Annapolis bribery lawyer.
Other Bribery Offenses in Annapolis
There are various other bribery offenses outlined in the Maryland Code. For example, Md. Code, Crim. Law § 9-202 outlines the offense of bribery of a juror. This offense occurs when individuals bribe or attempt to bribe jurors for the purposes of influencing their vote on a verdict, or when jurors receive or attempt to receive bribes for the same purposes.
Md. Code, Crim. Law § 9-203 sets forth the criminal offense of bribery of a voter. Individuals commit this offense when they give or promise to give, whether directly or indirectly, some type of gift in exchange for a certain vote in an election. Similarly, individuals may not provide free alcoholic beverages to voters before the close of an election on an election day.
Under Md. Code, Crim. Law § 9-204, it is a criminal offense to bribe or attempt to bribe individuals who are participating in or otherwise related to an athletic contest within the state. It is also illegal for individuals participating in or connected to athletic contests to accept or receive bribes for the purposes of influencing the outcome of the contests pursuant to Md. Code, Crim. Law § 9-205.
Contact a Bribery Attorney in Annapolis
Bribery offenses can have severe repercussions for those who are convicted of them. To avoid or minimize some of these adverse consequences, you should contact an Annapolis bribery lawyer if you are facing any type of accusations involving bribery.
As a crime that inherently involves dishonesty, a bribery conviction can have a negative effect on your ability to pursue higher education or certain careers. For those with any political aspirations, a bribery conviction can be highly detrimental your future plans. As a result, getting advice from an experienced criminal defense attorney could be crucial to your future.
