Can You Be Charged for Being an Accomplice in Arizona?
We all know the old saying: “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time,” but did you know that you may still be sentenced even if you didn’t technically commit a crime? In Arizona, you may face serious charges if you are found to be an accomplice in a criminal case. While you might think that being charged as an accomplice isn’t a big deal and won’t result in significant penalties, the opposite is true. Accomplices can face fines, jail time, and other serious punishments. Continue reading for a closer look at what it means to be an accomplice in a criminal case.
What is an accomplice?
An individual who commits a crime is the perpetrator of the crime, while an accomplice is someone who “intends to promote or facilitate an offense”, according to A.R.S. 13.301. In other words, an accomplice is someone who might help plan a criminal act, influence someone to commit a criminal act, or provide financial assistance or information to someone who is planning to commit a crime. For example, being a lookout to watch for police or property owners while someone breaks into private property would make you an accessory to trespassing and burglary. Other actions that may make someone an accomplice may include:
- Purchasing or providing a weapon
- Driving a getaway vehicle
- Providing logistical information or financial assistance
- Asking someone to commit a crime or encouraging them to do so
How is an accomplice different from an accessory?
Typically, an accomplice participates in the commission of a crime from the planning stages and is aware that the crime is going to take place before it occurs. Conversely, an accessory to a crime will assist a perpetrator after a crime has occurred in an effort to help them evade charges. For example, an accessory may clean up a crime scene, lie to police about a perpetrator’s whereabouts, or host a criminal who is hiding from the police.
What types of charges can an accomplice face?
The types of charges an accomplice may face will depend on the nature of the crime committed. As an accomplice, an individual may face charges as significant as those faced by the perpetrator. That’s because even though the individual may not have been physically involved in the commission of a crime, they assisted in the act and may have been present at the scene. For example, if someone provides a weapon to a perpetrator who threatens or injures another individual using that weapon, they are deemed responsible for the assault.
Do you need a defense lawyer as an accomplice?
If you are charged as an accomplice to any crime in Arizona, you need a criminal defense attorney to help you mount a defense and ensure that your rights are protected throughout your case.
Janet Altschuler is an experienced criminal lawyer in Tucson, AZ who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Her practice is solely focused on criminal defense, and Ms. Altschuler has extensive jury trial experience in state, city, and county courts. If you need a lawyer in Tucson, AZ, contact Janet Altschuler today.