In Colorado, offering money or other benefits to a juror to influence their decision is bribery. Bribing a juror is a class 4 felony. The penalties for bribery of a juror include up to 6 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. In this article, our Denver Colorado criminal defense lawyers will address:
- 1. What is bribery?
- 2. What is bribing a juror?
- 3. What are examples of juror bribery in Colorado?
- 4. What are the penalties for bribing a juror?
- 5. Related Offenses
1. What is bribery?
Bribery is offering money, favors, goods, or any other benefit for the purpose of influencing a person’s actions or decisions. Bribery benefits include any gain or advantage and includes gains or advantages to a third party. Bribery generally involves money, but may also include property, beneficial treatment, or sexual services.
2. What is bribing a juror?
A person commits bribery of a juror in Colorado if he or she offers, confers, or agrees to confer any benefit to influence the juror’s vote, opinion, decision, or other action as a juror.1
A “juror” means any person who is a member of a jury or grand jury serving on a jury panel by any court in Colorado. It also includes any person who has been selected or summoned to attend as a prospective juror. This includes jurors in criminal and civil court trials.2
3. What are examples of juror bribery in Colorado?
There may be a number of reasons why someone would attempt to bribe a juror. A defendant may be facing serious criminal charges, with a conviction resulting in jail time, sex offender status, loss of rights for a felony conviction, or other penalties. In some cases, the defendant’s family may try and influence a juror with money or other favors.
4. What are the penalties for bribing a juror?
As an obstruction of justice crime in Colorado, bribery of a juror is a class 4 felony.3 The minimum penalty for a class 4 felony conviction for bribing a juror is 2 years in prison and a fine of $2,000. The maximum penalty for juror bribery is 6 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. In addition, there is a mandatory parole period of 3 years.
A felony conviction for bribery can disqualify you from jury duty and prohibit you from holding a public office in the future. Bribery is generally considered a “crime of moral turpitude,” which is a crime against the public good. Juror bribery and other crimes of moral turpitude may be deportable offenses for individuals with who are not U.S. citizens.
5. Related Offenses
5.1. Bribery C.R.S. 18-8-302
The crime of bribery in Colorado is offering money or anything of value to a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant’s vote, judgment, or other action. Bribery is generally charged as a class 3 felony, with penalties including up to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000.
5.2. Witness Tampering C.R.S. 18-8-707
Tampering with a witness involves attempts to get a witness to withhold testimony, testify falsely, or be absent from an official proceeding. Tampering with a witness is a class 4 felony, with penalties including 2 to 6 years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines.
5.3. Intimidating a Witness C.R.S. 18-8-704
Intimidating a witness involves harassment or using threats of harm or injury a witness or victim of a crime to influence the witness or victim. Intimidating a witness is a class 4 felony, with penalties including 2 to 6 years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines.
5.4. Bribing a Witness C.R.S. 18-8-703
In Colorado, offering money or other benefits to a witness or victim of a crime to influence their decisions is bribery of a witness. Bribing a witness is a felony. The penalties for bribery of a witness or victim includes up to 6 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.
Call us for help…
If you have been accused of bribing or attempting to bribe a juror, please contact us at Colorado Legal Defense Group.
Legal References
- C.R.S. 18-8-606(1)
- C.R.S. 18-8-601(1)
- C.R.S. 18-8-606(2)