I’m Facing Bribery Charges in Nevada – What Should I Expect? White Collar Crime Attorney

I’m Facing Bribery Charges in Nevada – What Should I Expect?

If you’re facing bribery charges in Nevada, it can be an incredibly stressful and frightening situation. As someone whose been charged with bribery, you probably have a lot of questions about what to expect and how to protect yourself. This article will walk you through the key things to know if you’ve been charged with bribery in Nevada.

What is Bribery Under Nevada Law?

In Nevada, bribery is defined as corruptly giving, offering, or promising anything of value to a public official or employee with the intent to influence their actions or judgment. It’s also considered bribery to corruptly ask for, receive, or agree to receive anything of value in return for being influenced in your actions as a public official or employee [1].

Bribery doesn’t necessarily mean suitcases full of cash. Even small gifts, entertainment, or other benefits can be considered bribes under the law if they’re intended to influence official actions. Some key things that can qualify as bribery include:

• Giving a public official gifts, meals, travel, or other benefits
• Providing a job or other favorable opportunities to a public official or their family
• Making campaign contributions with the intent to influence the official
• Offering to help conceal or destroy evidence against a public official

It’s important to understand that simply giving a gift or campaign donation doesn’t automatically mean bribery – the prosecution has to prove corrupt intent to influence official actions. But any kind of quid pro quo, or ‘this for that’ exchange, can potentially lead to bribery charges.

Penalties for Bribery in Nevada

If convicted of bribery in Nevada, you’re looking at some very serious criminal penalties. Bribery is prosecuted as a category C felony, punishable by:

• 1 to 5 years in prison
• Fines up to $10,000
• Restitution

That’s just for standard bribery. If it involves bribery of an executive or public officer, the potential prison sentence increases to 1 to 10 years [2]. The bottom line is that bribery convictions often lead to years behind bars along with major fines and a permanent criminal record.

The Bribery Investigation and Arrest Process

Most bribery cases begin with an extensive investigation before any arrests take place. The authorities will likely use surveillance, undercover informants, document searches, and other evidence-gathering tactics. This can go on for months as they try to build a solid case.

If the investigation produces enough evidence, the next step is getting a grand jury indictment. This means the prosecution will present evidence to a grand jury to convince them there’s probable cause for criminal charges. If the grand jury hands down an indictment, that allows the state to move forward with arresting and prosecuting you.

After being indicted and arrested, you’ll be booked into jail and have to post bail to secure your release until trial. The bail amount is set by the court based on factors like your criminal history and flight risk. Expect it to be substantial for felony bribery charges.

Fighting the Charges with an Experienced Attorney

Once you’ve been charged with bribery, it’s essential to hire a knowledgeable Nevada bribery defense attorney right away. An experienced lawyer can start poking holes in the prosecution’s case and protect your rights at every stage.

Here are some of the most important ways a strong defense attorney can fight bribery accusations:

• Challenge improper police procedures that violated your rights
• Work to get inadmissible evidence thrown out
• Negotiate with the DA for reduced charges or a favorable plea deal
• Develop defenses showing you lacked criminal intent
• Thoroughly investigate the claims and find exonerating evidence
• Effective cross-examination of prosecution witnesses
• Present expert testimony rebutting the charges
• Make compelling arguments to the jury highlighting reasonable doubt

An aggressive defense can expose flaws in the prosecution’s bribery theories and show jurors the reasonable doubt in the state’s case. In some instances, charges can be reduced or even dismissed pre-trial through effective negotiation.

Possible Defenses in Nevada Bribery Cases

There are several legal defenses that could potentially defeat bribery allegations in Nevada. Here are some examples:

• Lack of corrupt intent – If you can show the gifts or benefits were given without intent to influence official actions, it weakens the corrupt intent element of bribery.
• Entrapment – This argues that you were illegally induced or coerced into committing bribery by overzealous law enforcement.
• Duress – Duress defenses claim you only committed bribery due to threats or coercion against you.
• Diminished mental capacity – In some cases, mental disabilities can be used to argue you weren’t capable of forming criminal intent.

A skilled lawyer will look at the specifics of your case to determine if any of these defenses could defeat the charges. Raising reasonable doubt on your intent is often the key.

The Bottom Line

Facing bribery accusations in Nevada is extremely serious business with potentially life-changing consequences. These complex cases require an attorney with extensive experience fighting these charges in NV courts.

Don’t leave your fate in the hands of an overworked public defender. Hire a top bribery defense lawyer to start protecting your rights and future today.

With an aggressive defense focused on reasonable doubt, there are opportunities in many cases to get charges reduced or dismissed. But you need experienced legal representation to give yourself the best chance in this uphill battle.

Don’t wait to act if you or a loved one is facing bribery allegations in Nevada. The sooner you engage a lawyer, the faster they can start weakening the prosecution’s case against you.

With the stakes so high, move quickly to get a skilled bribery defense attorney on your side. This is a fight you don’t want to face alone.