In Weld County, Colorado, Bribery occurs when someone offers some kind of benefit in order to sway the person receiving the bribe to make a certain decision or to act a certain way, through their authority or position. Recently, a huge college admission scandal was exposed. It was found that certain high ranking college admissions officials were accepting bribes from the wealthy parents to admit their kids into elite schools. Parents would also bribe ACT and SAT test overseers to have someone else take the exam for their kids. They also bribed coaches and administrators to label their kids as recruitable athletes, thus creating fake athletic profiles which gave their kids an advantage in the admissions process. No one is certain, but it appears these kids were not smart enough to compete on their own. Bribery is a serious charge that can have huge implications on your daily life if you’re convicted.
What is Bribery in Greeley?
Bribery, C.R.S. 18-8-302, in Greeley occurs when someone:
- Offers, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgement, exercise of discretion, or other action in his official capacity.
- While a public servant, he solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit (economic gain) upon an agreement or understanding that his vote, opinion, judgement, exercise of discretion, or other action as a public servant will thereby be influenced.
So, the crime of Bribery is inclusive of those who attempt to Bribe, as well as those who accept said Bribe.
How is Bribery Punished in Weld and Boulder County?
In Weld and Boulder County, if you’re convicted of Bribery, you would face a class 3 felony. The punishment for a Colorado class 3 felony is:
- 4 to 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections
- $3,000 – $750,000 fine charge
- 3 years of Mandatory Parole
Crimes Similar to Bribery in Windsor and Longmont
Additionally, in Windsor and Longmont, there are crimes similar to Bribery.
- Compensation for Past Official Behavior – C.R.S. 18-8-303
- Providing a benefit to a public servant for a decision, opinion, recommendation, or vote they had made previously.
- Class 6 felony
- Soliciting Unlawful Compensation – C.R.S. 18-8-304
- This is when someone requests some kind of benefit for doing an official action, knowing they were supposed to do it regardless of special compensation.
- Class 2 misdemeanor
- Trading in Public Office – C.R.S. 18-8-305
- Offering, conferring, or agreeing to confer a benefit for getting a certain person appointed in office, designated or nominated as a candidate for public office.
- Class 1 misdemeanor
- Attempt to Influence a Public Servant – C.R.S. 18-8-306
- A person uses deceit, threats, or economic reprisal against someone or a property to affect the public servant’s decision, vote, opinion, or action.
- Class 4 felony
- Bribing a Witness or Victim, C.R.S. 18-8-703
- Offering, conferring, or agreeing to confer any benefit to a witness or victim to influence them to falsely testify, unlawfully withhold testimony, or to inducing them to avoid testifying or to make themselves absent from an official proceeding.
- Class 4 felony
ACCUSED OF A BRIBERY CRIME IN WELD OR BOULDER COUNTY?
Be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and call the experienced Bribery attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office.
Call 970-616-6009 or fill out the Get Help Now form to meet with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Weld County and the Greeley area for a free consultation.
Together, we can protect your future.
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