The court system in California uses Penal Code 165 to prosecute individuals who try to bribe specific officials in local governments.
Discover more below about how the state of California defines county supervisors.
Basic Information about Bribery of County Supervisors Charges
Bribery occurs when someone offers another person funds or other benefits to gain some kind of desired outcome. Individuals should only face PC 165 charges if they attempt to offer a bribe to a member of:
- A common council
- A board of supervisors
- A board of trustees
These individuals may be on the board for cities, counties, or public corporations. These individuals are considered “county supervisors” by the legal system in California. Generally, the court only hands down a conviction for a PC 165 charge if someone acted with “corrupt intent.”
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Examples of Bribery for PC 165 Charges
It’s important to understand what constitutes bribery here in California. There are many actions a person could take to commit an act of bribery. The prosecution may charge an individual under PC 165 if, in order to influence a county supervisor, they offered or gave the county supervisor something of value.
Note that corrupt intent comes into play when considering acts of bribery in California. Individuals act with corrupt intent if they are trying to gain an unfair advantage. Bribery often focuses on financial advantages, but this is not always the case. Note that there are many other charges for bribery used in California, including:
- California Penal Code §§67 and 68: Bribery of or by an Executive Officer or Public Employee
- California Penal Code §§85 and 86: Bribery of or by Legislators
- California Penal Code §§92 and 93: Bribery of Judges and Jurors
- California Penal Code §§137 and 138: Bribery of or by Witnesses
All bribery charges in California should be taken seriously. If you were accused of an act of bribery, you may get help from the Simmrin Law Group. Call us at (310) 997-4688. One of our criminal defense lawyers in Los Angeles could begin working on your claim now.
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Bribery of a County Official Leads to Serious Penalties
Attempting to bribe or successfully bribing a county official may have major repercussions in California. The court treats PC 165 charges as felony-level offenses. This means that a conviction could result in prison time.
Individuals convicted under PC 165 may face two, three, or four years of time in prison. The prison system in California is often considered harsher than the jail system. You may end up incarcerated further away from your family if you are convicted of a felony.
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Consider Defenses for PC 165 Accusations in California
A PC 165 accusation doesn’t have to lead directly to a conviction here in California. In fact, you may get help building a defense by working with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer. Your lawyer may dig into the specific facts related to your case. Allow a lawyer to work to show that:
You Did Not Act with Corrupt Intent
You should only face a conviction for bribery of county officials if you were acting with corrupt intent. Perhaps you offered a county official a gift for innocuous reasons. If you were not trying to influence the official to gain a benefit, you could avoid a PC 165 conviction.
You Didn’t Offer a Bribe to a County Official
Perhaps you offered a bribe to someone who was not considered a county official. While you could still face criminal charges for bribery, you may not face PC 165 charges in this situation. Other bribery charges may not lead to such harsh penalties. Discuss your situation with a lawyer in this case.
You Were Entrapped by the Police
Law enforcement officers must operate within the bounds of the law. Sometimes they go too far while attempting to make an arrest. They could lure or push you into offering a bribe. In this situation, your lawyer could work to show you were entrapped. This could help with your defense.
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Speak to a Lawyer About Bribery of County Officials Charges
The Simmrin Law Group is standing by to help if you were charged under Penal Code 165: Bribery of County Officials. We know what it takes to build a defense for clients in your situation. Contact us for help right now. We’re ready to provide you with a free consultation. Discuss your legal situation with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.
Call us now at (310) 997-4688. You may also complete our online contact form.
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