An accusation of bribery can threaten your career, your reputation, and your freedom. Many people are surprised to learn that Maryland classifies bribery as a misdemeanor, yet the penalties are more severe than those attached to many felonies. Whether you are a public employee accused of accepting a payment or a private citizen accused of offering one, you need a skilled criminal defense attorney who understands how prosecutors build these cases and how to challenge them.
A Frederick bribery lawyer at Rolle & DeLorenzo can review the evidence against you, protect your rights during the investigation, and fight for the best possible outcome in Court.
Under Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 9-201, a person may not bribe or attempt to bribe a public employee to influence the performance of an official duty. The law also prohibits a public employee from demanding or receiving a bribe, fee, reward, or testimonial to influence official duties or to neglect or fail to perform them. Because an attempt is treated the same as a completed bribe, the state does not need to prove that the public employee accepted anything.
The statute defines “public employee” broadly to include officers and employees of the state, counties, municipal corporations, county boards of education, and other political subdivisions, as well as judges and judicial officers, members and officers of the General Assembly, and members of the Department of State Police
As our bribery defense lawyers in Frederick often explain, the employee does not need the actual power to deliver the promised result. In Thomas v. State (2010), the Supreme Court of Maryland (then the Court of Appeals) held that an act reasonably related to the employee’s official duties is enough to support a conviction.
A conviction under § 9-201 carries some of the harshest consequences of any misdemeanor in the state, including:
For a public employee, these penalties will also end a career in public service. A bribery attorney can help you understand how these consequences apply to your situation in Frederick.
State law addresses other forms of bribery as well. Under Md. Code, Crim. Law § 9-202, bribing a juror or a juror accepting a bribe for rendering a verdict carries a prison term of 18 months to six years and a permanent bar from future jury service. Separate statutes cover bribery of a voter under Md. Code, Crim. Law § 9-203 and bribery connected to athletic contests under Md. Code, Crim. Law § 9-204 and Md. Code, Crim. Law § 9-205.
Bribery cases often depend on intent, and the state must prove that a payment or offer was made to influence official conduct. Our Frederick bribery defense attorneys will examine every part of the prosecution’s case. Common defense strategies include:
Witness credibility is especially important in these cases. Section 9-201 allows the state to compel one participant to testify against another and grants that witness immunity from prosecution for the crime at issue. A witness who receives immunity has a strong motive to shape testimony in favor of the prosecution, and our attorneys will expose those weaknesses at trial.
A bribery charge places your liberty, your civil rights, and your professional future at risk, and the decisions you make early in the case will shape the result. A Frederick bribery lawyer at Rolle & DeLorenzo can assess the allegations against you, explain the potential consequences, and identify issues that may affect the prosecution’s case. Taking action early can also give your defense more time to preserve evidence and address the allegations.
You do not have to face the prosecution alone. Contact our firm today to schedule a confidential consultation and start building a strong defense.
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