Lexington Bribery Lawyer

A bribery charge can have serious and long-term consequences. In Lexington County, bribery charges fall within the South Carolina Criminal Code. Under the Code, bribery is defined as giving or offering something of value to a public official, government employee, or elected representative. That something of value is usually money. Moreover, the person who offers the bribe must have the specific intent to encourage the government official to take some desired action.

Bribery can also work the other way. For example, if the public official specifically requests something of value in exchange for taking certain action, that may also constitute bribery. The maximum penalty for bribery is ten years’ incarceration, a fine of $10,000, or both.

If the state charged you with bribery, you may need experienced legal representation by your side throughout your case. A Lexington bribery lawyer can first meet with you to discuss the facts and circumstances of your case. Call an accomplished attorney today to schedule a consultation.

Burden of Proof

To meet its burden of proof in a bribery case, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This means the jury must be able to believe the accused committed the crime beyond a doubt based upon ordinary reason and common sense.

The prosecution does, however, need to demonstrate all of the legal elements of the bribery charge. This means the state must show the accused offered something of value to a public official with the specific intent of having the government official take certain actions.

If any of these elements are missing, the prosecution may not be able to meet its burden of proof. In that instance, the accused may raise a defense, and the court may dismiss the bribery charge. A well-trained lawyer could help challenge the prosecution’s allegations.

Coercion and Duress Defenses

Since the burden of proving all the elements of bribery rests with the prosecution, the person facing the charges can explain their side of the story and present any alternative theories that may cast reasonable doubt.

For example, if the individual can show someone coerced them to commit bribery, such as by holding a gun to their head, they may be able to raise a duress defense. Duress is a complete defense. This means that if the person can successfully prove it, the court may be able to completely dismiss the bribery charge. To find out more information on defense strategies in a bribery case, seek the services of a bribery lawyer in Lexington.

Contact a Lexington Bribery Attorney Today

If you are currently facing a bribery charge, you should have a lawyer present during all your court proceedings. If you show up to court without a lawyer, a judge may make you stand trial by yourself.

A Lexington bribery attorney could be very helpful to you before trial by answering your legal questions and helping you formulate a good defense. They can also advocate for you in the courtroom and highlight the strengths of your legal defenses. It is crucial to have legal counsel by your side when you are facing criminal charges.