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Photo Of Kyle B. Sawyer

Charged With A Crime? It Doesn’t Mean You’re Guilty.

Bribing Or Bribery Of Witness Or Victim

Bribing Or Bribery Of Witness Or Victim – C.R.S. 18-8-703

Throughout Broomfield, Adams and Larimer counties, Colorado, people are seeking a fair trial. Bribing or bribery of a witness or victim, C.R.S. 18-8-703, interferes with the fair trial process for one side. Just like defendants want to avoid lying police, district attorneys want to avoid witnesses who have been paid to testify a certain way. This crime is similar to intimidating a witness or victim, C.R.S. 18-8-704, and tampering with a witness or victim, C.R.S. 18-8-707 since the goal of each is to influence testimony at a hearing or trial.

Examples Of Bribing A Witness Or Victim In Denver

Bribing a witness or victim involves the offer of any benefit (like money or property), conferred in exchange for testifying falsely, to avoid legal processes like a summons or subpoena, to withhold testimony, or to not show up at court. You can also be charged with this crime in Denver, Boulder or Weld County if you offer to provide the thing of value to a member of the victim’s family or someone in close association to the witness or victim or someone residing in their household. Obviously, this crime is written very broadly to encompass the most people possible.

Bribing or bribery charges usually arise when a defendant or their family is trying to help their case and they contact a victim or witness and offer money if that person doesn’t come to trial. The expectation is that the defendant will be better off without the testimony, or that the case will be dismissed if an essential witness does not show up.

Definition Of Bribing A Witness Or Victim In Jefferson County

In Jefferson County and throughout Colorado, the definition of Bribing a witness or victim, C.R.S. 18-8-703, is this:

(1) A person commits bribing a witness or victim if he or she offers, confers, or agrees to confer any benefit upon a witness, or a victim, or a person he or she believes is to be called to testify as a witness or victim in any official proceeding, or upon a member of the witness’ family, a member of the victim’s family, a person in close relationship to the witness or victim, or a person residing in the same household as the witness or victim with intent to:

  • (a) Influence the witness or victim to testify falsely or unlawfully withhold any testimony; or
  • (b) Induce the witness or victim to avoid legal process summoning him to testify; or
  • (c) Induce the witness or victim to absent himself or herself from an official proceeding.

Penalty For Bribing A Witness Or Victim In Arapahoe County

Bribing a witness or victim is a Class 4 felony, and is punishable by a prison sentence to the Department of Corrections from 2-6 years, and fines between $2,000 and $500,000. With such high penalties, it is important to take charges of this crime very seriously.

Douglas County Attorney For Bribery Of A Witness Or Victim Charges

If you or a loved one has been contacted by law enforcement in Douglas County about the witness or victim bribery allegations, don’t give any statements. Instead, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and call the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC, at 303-731-0719, right away. Together, we can protect your future.

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