Understanding Criminal Liability: The Roles of Accomplices, Accessories, Aiders, and Abettors

At The Law Office of Monte J. Robbins, Esq., we recognize that criminal law is complex, with different levels of involvement in a crime attracting varying degrees of culpability. It’s important to understand that not only the individual committing the criminal act but also those who provide assistance may face serious legal consequences.

In the realm of criminal law, those who participate in the commission of a crime, whether actively or by providing assistance to the main perpetrator, either before or after the fact, may be subject to prosecution and punishment.

Delineating Principals from Accomplices

Traditionally, the individual who directly engages in carrying out a criminal act is designated as the principal. Meanwhile, those who offer support or assistance are known as accomplices. An accomplice is someone who knowingly aids another person in committing a criminal offense.

An accomplice’s lack of direct involvement in the execution of the crime does not exempt them from legal responsibility. By law, their contribution prior to the crime renders them equally accountable as if they had performed the central criminal act themselves. Take, for example, a scenario where an individual named Lars Senny commits burglary at a warehouse. Another individual, Hal Perr, could be held just as responsible if he engages in any of the following actions to facilitate the crime:

• Hal, an employee at the warehouse, incapacitates the on-duty security guard ahead of the burglary.
• Hal sabotages the warehouse security system to allow undetected entry.
• Hal provides Lars with detailed plans and escape routes after reviewing warehouse blueprints.
• Hal procures a rental vehicle to facilitate removal of the stolen goods.
• Hal, aware of Lars’s intentions, looks after Lars’s child, providing Lars with the opportunity to commit the burglary.

To establish someone as an accomplice, the prosecution must demonstrate that the individual intentionally contributed to the perpetration of a crime, being fully aware of the principal’s criminal intentions and desiring to assist in its success.

Differentiating Between Roles in Criminal Activity

Common law has historically used particular designations to differentiate the varying degrees of involvement in criminal activity. For example, a “principal in the first degree” is the person who carries out the act. A “principal in the second degree,” also known as an “aider and abettor,” plays a supportive role at the crime scene, perhaps serving as a lookout. An “accessory before the fact” is someone who assists but is not present at the time of the crime. Modern statutes may amalgamate the legal responsibilities of these roles, equating the punishment of accomplices with the perpetrators of the criminal act, irrespective of their physical presence or the role they played.

The Role of an Accessory After the Fact

Identified as an accessory after the fact is an individual who, fully aware that a felony has been committed, assists the felon in evading capture or legal proceedings. Generally, the law imposes lighter penalties on accessories after the fact in contrast to those meted out to accomplices or principals.

Legal Treatment of Conspirators

Conspirators represent a collective of individuals who enter into an agreement with the mutual intent to commit a criminal offense. The critical distinction between conspirators and accomplices lies in the fact that, in the eyes of the law, each conspirator is a principal regardless of their role in the commission of the actual crime. Conspiracy remains a contentious area of law because the guilty verdict can be handed down even if the conspired act never comes to fruition. However, states often require the occurrence of an “overt act” as evidence, an action that pushes the conspired plan toward actual execution, to mitigate the potential for punishing individuals for mere thought crimes.

For any further inquiries or legal assistance related to such criminal matters, do not hesitate to contact The Law Office of Monte J. Robbins, Esq. at 303-355-5148. We are here to provide you with the legal guidance and representation you need.