What is bribery?
Florida Statute 838.015 defines Bribery:
- Corruptly to give, offer or promise any public servant
- Public servant corruptly requests or agrees to accept a benefit not authorized by law
- For the purpose to influence the performance of any act within the discretion of the public servant in the performance of public duty
What this means, is that if you try to influence a public official, police officer, congressman, prosecutor, judge or any other public servant to do something with the intent to influence an official action, you are guilty of bribery. This does not always mean that you are alleged to offer money as a bribe, even asking a police officer after you’ve been arrested “what can I do right now for you to let me go?” could be construed as a bribe to that police officer.
Florida Statute 838.015 also makes it illegal for the public servant to accept, solicit or agree to accept any money or other benefit with the intent to influence his/her public duty. This means that an officer, judge, prosecutor, state representative, mayor or other public servant cannot accept anything in exchange for doing something within their official discretion of a public servant, in violation of a public duty, or in performance of a public duty.
Penalties for Bribery
Florida categorizes Bribery as a 2nd degree felony punishable by:
- Minimum 21 months state prison
- Maximum 15 years prison
- Maximum 15 years probation
- Up to $10,000.00 in fines
- Ban from public service
Contact a Broward County Bribery Charge Lawyer
If you are charged with Bribery in Broward County, it is imperative that you contact the office of Attorney Grant Schwarz to speak with an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney. Attorney Grant Schwarz is top rated Superb 10.0 our of 10.0 criminal defense attorney on Avvo.com and is a former prosecutor who knows how the state attorney’s office prosecutes these cases and knows how to properly defend his clients in an ethical and aggressive manner. Understanding that all cases are different, Attorney Grant Schwarz focuses all of his knowledge as a former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney to build a defense that works for your particular case.
