Summerville Bribery Lawyer

South Carolina laws prohibiting bribery of government officials, legal representatives, voters, and other figures, as well as those prohibiting the acceptance of such bribes, impose a range of penalties including fines, incarceration, and imprisonment at hard labor. In some cases, a conviction for offering, promising, or accepting a bribe can cause unwanted professional obstacles.

Whatever the penalty, for social, professional, and practical reasons, most people would prefer to avoid a bribery conviction, whether that involves seeking a dismissal, pleading to a lesser offense, fighting the charge in court, or some other legal alternative. If you are facing a charges for a bribery-related offense, should speak to a local attorney as soon as possible. Discuss your case with a Summerville bribery lawyer as soon as possible.

Bribery of Government Officers

South Carolina Code of Laws §16-9-210 states that someone convicted of seeking to influence a legislative, executive, or judicial officer in exchange for a gift or gratuity receives either imprisonment with hard labor in the State Penitentiary for up to five years or a fine of up to $3,000 and imprisonment in jail for up to a year.

Under S.C. Code §16-9-220, an officer who corruptly accepts a gift, gratuity, or promise in exchange for granting a particular vote, opinion, judgment, nomination, or appointment forfeits their office and any opportunity to hold a state public office in the future. A conviction brings imprisonment with hard labor in the State Penitentiary for up to ten years or a fine of up to $5,000 along with a jail sentence of up to two years. Under S.C. Code §16-9-270, a juror, arbitrator, umpire, or referee who accepts a bribe from a party in a case to which they are summoned or appointed faces imprisonment with hard labor in the State Penitentiary for up to five years or a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail.

Bribes to Procure Office and Influence Elections

Offering a bribe to procure an office or place of trust in the state, and a conviction results in a fine of $100 to $500 and imprisonment for up to six months. S.C. Code 16-9-290 prohibits accepting such a bribe, and the penalty for conviction includes a fine of up to $100 and imprisonment at the court’s discretion.

S.C. Code §7-25-50 prohibits procuring or being procured to vote in a particular way in any election in exchange for something of value and results in a felony charge for both participants. A first conviction results in a fine of $100 to $500 and imprisonment for up to five years, and a second conviction results in a fine of $500 to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to ten years. Someone convicted for the first time of paying, promising to pay, or accepting value for state office faces a fine in the discretion of the court and imprisonment for up to five years, ten years for a subsequent conviction.

Seek Help From a Summerville Bribery Attorney

A bribery conviction could affect your life in any number of ways. If you face a bribery allegation in or around Summerville, take the time to consult an attorney with a solid understanding of bribery offenses.

Take practical steps to defend yourself. Speak with a Summerville bribery lawyer who can answer your questions and suggest realistic approaches to protecting your rights. Call today.