In South Carolina, bribery is punishable by fine and imprisonment. If you have been accused of proposing or accepting bribes, consider hiring an experienced defense attorney.
At Ellis Hinton, LLC, our Greenville bribery lawyers possess extensive knowledge to defend you against criminal accusations. We are based in Greenville, servicing SC and beyond. Enlist the help of Ellis Hinton, LLC, for state and federal criminal defense today.
In South Carolina, you can be accused of bribery for proposing, accepting, or requesting a bribe. A person proposes a bribe, in violation of the South Carolina Code of Laws, when they provide gifts or gratuities to an agent, employee, or public servant with the intent to influence their actions. The proposal of a bribe also includes gifting commissions, discounts, and bonuses from sellers, contractors, or manufacturers of goods and supplies.
Similarly, South Carolina punishes agents, employees, and public servants who request or accept gifts, gratuities, commissions, discounts, or bonuses from persons who intend to influence their actions. Proposing a bribe and accepting or requesting a bribe is punishable by a fine of no more than $500 and imprisonment for up to one year. A Greenville lawyer could explain the potential penalties you may be facing for your specific bribery charges.
Criminal defense lawyers exist to protect the rights of the accused, including the following:
If you face a trial, any of these rights may need to be invoked. Our Greenville bribery attorneys will protect these rights throughout the legal process.
Because the US legal system is highly motivated to prosecute alleged criminals, prosecutors and law enforcement can be deceitful and predatory to induce confessions. Retaining a skilled lawyer will make it more difficult for prosecutors and law enforcement to take advantage of you. Similarly, the State will be less likely to pursue illegal tactics with a criminal defense attorney present.
An additional benefit of retaining a lawyer is the creativity they will contribute to building your defense. When someone is accused of a crime, prosecutors must be able to prove each element of the crime, as provided in the South Carolina Code of Laws, to obtain a guilty verdict.
An astute and well-versed attorney uses innovative lawyering to find flaws in the prosecution’s argument. For example, the law prohibits bribes to agents, employees, and servants.
Your criminal defense lawyer will research the case law to determine who qualifies as an agent, employee, or servant. Depending on your job description or the job description of the person you allegedly bribed, your alleged actions may fall outside of the scope of the law.
When you or a loved one has been accused of a crime, it is imperative to secure dedicated and reliable legal representation to fight these charges. Without this, you could place your freedom and reputation at a higher risk than necessary.
You deserve to be represented by the credible Greenville bribery lawyers at Ellis Hinton, LLC. Call us to schedule a consultation and discover how we can represent your case.
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