Accomplice liability

On Behalf of | Jan 16, 2018 | Accomplice

One legal term that not many people are familiar with is the phrase accomplice liability. Accomplice liability stands for the legal proposition that someone can be found guilty (criminally liable) for the acts of another person if they aided that person in the commission of a crime. Intent to Deliver narcotics What does it mean exactly to be an accomplice? How much does someone need to help a person committing a crime in order to become an accomplice? Well the unfortunate thing for individuals charged with being an accomplice is that they don’t need to help that much in order to be found legally liable of being an accomplice. Specifically, an individual can be found guilty of being an accomplice in the sale of narcotics if he is simply a look out for the police. And an accused can be found guilty of being an accomplice in a robbery if he helps pick a store to be robbed and assists others enter the store in order to commit the robbery.

The amount of prison time that an accused can face under the legal theory of accomplice liability can be significant. Specifically, in the above examples, the look out for the drug dealer selling narcotics will face the same amount of time for being a look out as the individual that as selling the drugs. Learn about sentencing The same is true for the accomplice to the robbery. Accordingly, being named an accomplice to a crime is frequently just as serious as being the principal person that committed the crime. If the crime is serious enough (like in the case of an accomplice to a robbery), an accused can face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Make sure to consult with the experienced Chester County Criminal lawyers at the Bellwoar Kelly, LLP if you have been charged with the crime of accomplice liability.

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