The court takes charges of bribing a judge or juror seriously and the consequences can be dire. At Law Office of Michael L. Fell we can help you fight these charges. Keep reading to get the basic facts and then contact us at (949) 585-9055 for a free legal consultation with an experienced bribery defense attorney.

The Definition of a Bribe

First and foremost, it is important to understand what a bribe is, from a legal perspective. In California it refers to a judge or juror making a decision in exchange for money or something else that has value. Bribery charges can go both ways – a person can be convicted for bribing someone and that person can be convicted of bribery for accepting the bribe.

More About the Bribery of Judicial Officers and Jurors

According to the California Penal Code, it is a felony to give or offer to give a judicial officer property that has value with a corrupt intent to influence their decision in an official matter. This includes judges, umpires, jurors, referees, and arbitrators.

More About Bribery by Judicial Officers and Jurors

It is also a felony for a judicial officer to ask, take, or agree to take something of value with corrupt intent and to agree to change their decision on a matter as a result. This includes the same covered people: Judges, jurors, umpires, referees, and arbitrators.

Defend Options to a Charge of Bribery

As we will discuss below, the penalties for a conviction of bribery can be very significant. As a result, it is essential to find the best defense against these charges. This can include showing that you had no corrupt intent, that you were entrapped, that you were coerced to make or take a bribe, or that you were intoxicated at the time of the alleged crime. Of course, these are just some options – the best defense will depend on your specific case.

You Could Be Facing Prison Time for a Bribery Conviction

IF you are convicted of bribing a judge or jury, or being bribed as a member of a jury or as a judge, you could both spend time in prison and own significant fines. In some cases, these can be felony offenses that come with up to four years in prison. Fines will depend on whether or not the bribe was actually received and how much it was.

If the bribe wasn’t received and was more than $2,000 or less than $10,000, or if the bribe was received and was more than $2,000, the fine can be the bribe amount received or $2,000 (whichever is a greater amount) or any amount not more than twice the bribe amount received or $10,000.

Do not face these charges alone. Contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 now to request a free legal consultation and to determine your best way forward.