Georgia Public Corruption Defense Attorneys

Georgia law provides that a person commits the offense of bribery when:

(1) He or she gives or offers to give to any person acting for or on behalf of the state or any political subdivision thereof, or of any agency of either, any benefit, reward, or consideration to which he or she is not entitled with the purpose of influencing him or her in the performance of any act related to the functions of his or her office or employment; or

(2) A public official, elected or appointed, or an employee of this state or any agency, authority, or entity of the state, or any county or municipality or any agency, authority, or entity thereof, directly or indirectly solicits, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive a thing of value by inducing the reasonable belief that the giving of the thing will influence his or her performance or failure to perform any official action.

A person convicted of the offense of bribery shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years, or both.

Violation of Oath of Office

Georgia law provides that any public officer who willfully and intentionally violates the terms of his oath as prescribed by law shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.

Recent cases

• State v. Lassiter - It is not necessary for a bribery indictment to specify what act the briber wants performed.
• Upton v. State - A person can only be bribed to do something in the line of his or her official duty.
• Hall v. State - Offering money to two law enforcement officers to drop charges amounts to two bribery offenses.
• State v. Tullis - A police officer taking a candy bar from a convenience store without paying for it does not constitute a violation of oath of office charge.
• Barnes v. State - A violation of oath of office can take place when the officer is off duty.

Our law firm of top defense attorneys has extensive experience in defending serious public corruption, violation of oath of office and bribery charges in the metro areas of Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Augusta and in all other Georgia courts. Please contact us if you need a criminal defense lawyer who has successfully resolved alleged violations of Georgia’s public corruption laws.