TCA 39-16-102
Bribery of public servant
FELONY BClass B Felony
Sentence enhancement may apply
What does this charge mean?
It is illegal to offer money or valuable benefits to a government official (or accept them as an official) with the intent to influence that official's vote, decision, or action in their job. This happens when someone tries to buy a public official's favorable decision or the official agrees to make decisions based on payment. Violation is a Class B felony punishable by 8-30 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.
Penalty Details
ClassificationClass B Felony
Maximum Jail8-30 years
Maximum Fine$25,000
Penalty SummaryClass B felony; 8-30 years; fine up to $25,000
(a) A person commits an offense who: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.Pecuniary benefit: means benefit in the form of money, property, commercial interests or anything else, the primary significance of which is economic gain. See Tennessee Code 39-16-101Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106Public servant: means : (A) Any public officer or employee of the state or of any political subdivision of the state or of any governmental instrumentality within the state including, but not limited to, law enforcement officers. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106(1) Offers, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion or other action in the public servant’s official capacity; or (2) While a public servant, solicits, accepts or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit upon an agreement or understanding that the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion or other action as a public servant will thereby be influenced. (b) (1) It is no defense to prosecution under this section that the person sought to be influenced was not qualified to act in the desired way because the person had not yet assumed office, lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason. (2) It is no defense to prosecution under this section that the person who sought to influence a public official took action on behalf of a public or private organization or any other entity, for the purpose of organizing a campaign or for any other lawful purpose. (c) (1) Bribery of a public servant under subdivision (a)(1) is a Class B felony. (2) A public servant accepting or agreeing to accept a bribe under subdivision (a)(2) is a Class B felony.
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026
Recent Bookings with this Charge
View allGary Creasman
Hamilton Co. · Feb 14, 2026

Jarrett Heard
Knox Co. · Feb 11, 2026
Rachel Sensabaugh
Sullivan Co. · Feb 9, 2026
JORDAN ARMES
Roane Co. · Jan 25, 2026

PEDRO GUZMAN
Hamblen Co. · Jan 1, 2026
LEO KNOTT
Davidson Co. · Dec 2, 2025

Vance Dodson
Knox Co. · Aug 22, 2025
ROBERT MARTIN
Davidson Co. · Apr 12, 2023
Quick Facts
FELONY B
TCA Section39-16-102
Max Jail8-30 years
Max Fine$25,000
Recent Bookings8+
Geographic Distribution
Knox2
Davidson2
Wayne1
Sullivan1
Roane1
Hamilton1
Hamblen1