New Brunswick NJ Bribery Defense Attorney
A skilled criminal defense lawyer is an absolute must for anyone charged with bribery or the frequently encountered companion offense of official misconduct in Middlesex County. The penalties for making, receiving or even agreeing to a bribe are extreme in New Jersey. You face a stiff prison sentence if you are convicted of bribing a state, county or local official in Woodbridge, South Amboy, Sayreville, New Brunswick or Old Bridge. Escaping extreme consequences will require representation by a competent criminal defense lawyer. Our attorneys include former county prosecutors and a team with over a century practicing in this arena. To speak to an attorney at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall immediately, call our New Brunswick Office at 732-246-7126.
Charged With Bribery in Middlesex County
An individual can commit bribery under N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2 if they offer, solicit, confer or agree to provide or accept a bribe of a public official or employee to influence their behavior. The bribe need not be for money or anything of a pecuniary nature. Any benefit that influences, even promising not to follow through on a threat, suffices in trigger a violation of this law. The prosecutor must prove the following four (4) elements in order to convict someone of bribery: (1) the defendant directly or indirectly offered, conferred, agreed to confer or solicited, accepted or agreed to accept a benefit; (2) with the purpose to bribe; (3) by conferring a benefit/consideration to someone in the public sector; and (4) to effect an opinion, decision, recommendation or exercise of discretion.
Grading of Offense. Bribery is almost always a second degree crime. The only time it is a third degree crime is where the benefit or consideration involved is $200 or less.
Penalties. If you are convicted of second degree bribery you are facing five (5) to ten (10) years in prison. You are also subject to a fine of up to $150,000. Third degree bribery results in up to five (5) years of incarceration and a fine that can reach $15,000.
Sayreville Bribery Offense Lawyer
Municipalities like Sayreville are not immune from corruption. Incidents of payoffs and kickbacks occur no different from in big cities. Whether its a payment to pass an inspection or payment to obtain a land use approval (e.g. subdivision, variance, etc.), bribery occurs in Middlesex County towns too, including Monroe, Edison, East Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Carteret. If you were arrested based on allegations that you violated 2C:27-2, what is key is that you retain a lawyer with the savvy to afford you full protection of your rights. The former prosecutors and skilled attorneys at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall possess this level of competency and are ready to fight for the very best outcome on your behalf. To speak to an attorney on our team, call our East Brunswick Office at 732-227-1200 for a free consultation.
