White collar crimes are generally non-violent. They do not involve force or physical harm. Instead, they often involve false statements, omissions, and deceptive practices that result in financial harm suffered by others.
One white collar crime that Tulare residents may hear about in the news is bribery. Bribery involves individuals wrongfully attempting to influence individuals in power, such as politicians at different levels of government. Depending on the facts alleged, in California bribery can be a misdemeanor or a felony.
Valuation of the alleged bribe
When a bribe is made, a person offers an individual in power something of value for support or decisions made in the person’s favor. Depending on the value of the item offered in the bribe, the alleged crime can be a misdemeanor or felony. When the value of the item, if stolen, would constitute petty theft, the bribe would be a misdemeanor. However, if value of the item offered in the bribe would be considered grand theft if stolen, the alleged bribe would be a felony.
Working through the facts of a bribery charge
As readers can tell, bribery is a serious criminal matter. It can become a conviction punishable through imprisonment if it is alleged to be a felony and a prosecutor prevails in their case. It can result in fines and other losses even as a misdemeanor conviction.
Individuals facing bribery and other white collar crime charges do not have to work alone to prepare their defense strategies. They have rights to seek legal counsel, and criminal defense attorneys can assist them with understanding their charges and the strategies they may use to mitigate or overcome their bribery charges.
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