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Bribing a Witness in Aliso Viejo

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Bribing a Witness in Aliso Viejo

Available 24/7/365
See All Criminal Defense Practice Areas

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Bribing a Witness in Aliso Viejo

Summary: This page covers Bribing a Witness PC 137 & 138 in Aliso Viejo, Elements That the Prosecutor Must Prove, Penalties.

Bribing a Witness PC 137 & 138 in Aliso Viejo

Bribing a witness is when a witness changes their testimony or makes an agreement to not appear at a trial in exchange for money or anything of value. It is a felony crime to give, offer to give, or make a promise of a bribe to a witness to give information to law enforcement about a crime and act with corrupt intent to persuade them to influence the testimony.  This could consist of the witness not testifying, providing a false account of a situation, giving a witness something in exchange for lying under oath to benefit someone else, or attempting to blackmail or threaten a witness.

In the city of Aliso Viejo and in the state of California, offering a bribe, bribing, or receiving a bribe as a witness is a felony.

According to California Penal Code 137, it is an offense to give a bribe to a witness with the intention to corrupt and influence their testimony in a legal proceeding.

California Penal Code 138(a) deals with bribery offered or given to a witness regarding their attendance at a legal proceeding, while Penal Code 138(b) addresses bribes taken by a witness to influence their attendance or testimony in court.

Elements That the Prosecutor Must Prove

For a prosecutor to succeed at bringing charges against you, they must prove the following key elements:

  1. That you offered or gave a bribe
  2. That it was actually a bribe
  3. That the bribe was to a witness or someone about to give material information
  4. That there was material information involved to prove a crime
  5. That the material information was about to be given to law enforcement
  6. That your actions were meant to corrupt the witness or person about to give material information to law enforcement
  7. That you intended to act in such a manner
  8. That the purpose of the bribe was to influence the person’s testimony or information in the legal proceeding

An example of bribing a witness would be someone that accidentally hits a car, but doesn’t leave the necessary information or say anything about it. As a result, they are later arrested. However, they are aware that there was a witness who saw them committing this crime. Later, they attempt to offer them $1,000.00 dollars to in exchange for their cooperation and silence.

A common defense for bribing a witness is by appealing to the lack of corrupt intent. The defendant might say that there was never a bribe in the first place or that someone else coerced you into committing the bribery.

Penalties

Under PC 137 and 138, the felony charge of bribing a witness attracts a penalty of up to 4 years in state prison if you are convicted.

Since this is a serious offense that can easily land you in jail, it is important to find an experienced defense attorney with experience in this specific kind of case to defend you. At the Johnson Criminal Law Group, we fight for your rights – contact us now.

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Mr. R was charged with embezzling close to $100,000 as a utility salesperson using a scheme to steal customers’ identities. Client avoided any jail time and received probation.

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I really appreciate everything she has done for me; I cannot thank her enough! Ms. Johnson-Norris did an absolutely thorough job by answering any and all questions that I had. She called me with updates and preferences on how I should be handling the case, which made the whole process very reassuring. The staff was very up to date with all of the follow-up information that was involved with my case that was also extremely beneficial. Ms. Johnson-Norris had a very reassuring aspect about her that made it very easy to let her handle the case. If anything were to go wrong with anyone I am associated with, she will be the lawyer of choice. I really appreciate everything that she has done for me, I can not thank her enough!

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What immediate steps will you take to protect my rights?

We provide immediate crisis command by reviewing the allegations against you and intervening with law enforcement to prevent further exposure. From the moment you retain the Firm, we act as your shield, managing all communications and executing a decisive strategy to protect your liberty and reputation.

We prioritize discretion and exposure management. We understand that a public allegation can be as damaging as a conviction; therefore, our strategy focuses on minimizing the visibility of your case while challenging the prosecution’s narrative to preserve your standing in the community.

We begin by meticulously reviewing the allegations to determine if the conduct even constitutes a crime under the law. We then scrutinize the prosecution’s evidence against the highest standard — proof beyond a reasonable doubt. By analyzing the “who, what, when, where, and how,” we identify the natural questions a jury will have, allowing us to build an expert strategy that derails the prosecutor’s narrative.

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Yes, our firm offers comprehensive legal services in Orange County with a unique focus on “crossover” cases where criminal and juvenile law intersect. Johnson Criminal Law Group provides the specialized expertise necessary to navigate investigations that threaten parental rights and family stability.

When you partner with Johnson Criminal Law Group, you receive 24/7 responsiveness and a clear, strategic plan designed to resolve your legal emergency decisively. We balance aggressive defense strategies with genuine human connection, ensuring you are treated with the respect and transparency you deserve during a crisis

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