§ 5-52-101 - Abuse of public trust. - Arkansas Statutes

5-52-101. Abuse of public trust.

(a) A person commits the offense of abuse of public trust if the person:

(1) Solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept on behalf of any person, political party, or other organization any benefit from another person upon an agreement or understanding that the other person will or may be appointed a public servant or designated or nominated as a candidate for public office;

(2) Offers, confers, or agrees to confer any benefit and the receipt of the benefit is prohibited by this section;

(3) Solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any benefit as compensation or consideration for having as a public servant given a decision, opinion, recommendation, or vote favorable to another or for having otherwise exercised his or her discretion in favor of another; or

(4) Offers, confers, or agrees to confer any benefit upon a public servant and the receipt of the benefit is prohibited by this section.

(b) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that the decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or use of discretion, except for the benefit, was otherwise proper.

(c) Abuse of public trust is a Class D felony.