A "D" felony punishable by up to seven years in state prison, Bribery in the Third Degree, New York Penal Law 200.00, is the least severe Bribery in New York. To claim that “least severe” equates to limited or no penalty or punishment, however, is both naïve and foolish. Have no misgiving. If you are accused of or arrested for this felony crime in White Plains, New York City, New City, Poughkeepsie or Yonkers, there are few, if any, prosecutors who will let you off easy because of the White Collar nature of your alleged offense. Certainly, the criminal judge who hears your case will likely take a similar view of your conduct if you are convicted of Third Degree Bribery. Simply, retaining the best criminal defense lawyer in New York for your PL 200.00 arrest or indictment is vital to whatever defense you determine best addresses the evidence of your case.
Third Degree Bribery: Defining NY Penal Law 200.00You are guilty of Bribery in the Third Degree, NY PL 200.00, if you merely offer or agree to confer any benefit upon a person who serves as a public servant. In exchange for this benefit, whether its cash and dollars or something quite different, the public servant must agree and understand that because of this benefit you are bestowing upon him or her, there will be something given in return. This something need not be a physical object or tangible property. Instead, it must be your objective that the public servant, whether a DMV representative, clerk in municipal government, police officer, or any other similarly situated person, allow their decisions, actions, vote or judgment to be influenced by your “generosity.”
Again, it is critically important to recognize that as with all crimes relating to Bribery, the benefit offered or given to the public official need not be money. The benefit could come in the form of vacations, discounted tickets to sporting events or any type of property from cigars and watches to leather goods and clothing.
Third Degree Bribery: NY Penal Law 200.00 PenaltiesBriefly mentioned above, the potential sentence post-conviction for Third Degree Bribery is as great two and one third to seven years in a New York State prison assuming you are not a predicate felon. That said, a judge can sentence you to “City” or “County” time of up to one year in a jail such as Rikers Island or the Rockland County Jail, five years probation, community service and varying fines. Moreover, there can be a combination of these sentences such as a 6/5 split that combines both jail and probation. The bigger issue may be the fact that whether you are incarcerated or not, New York felony convictions never go away even if you want nothing more for your criminal defense attorney to help you wipe it from your memory.
Any degree of Bribery is a frightening charge to face. Put yourself in the best position to overcome your arrest or indictment for NY Penal Law 200.00. Contact the New York criminal defense attorneys and former Manhattan prosecutors at Saland Law so their experience, knowledge and advocacy can be your most formidable defense.
Call our New York criminal lawyers and former Manhattan prosecutors at (212) 312-7129 or contact us online today