If you help someone with the planning or execution of a felony, you may be charged with being an accessory before the fact to the crime the person committed.
If you are present as a crime occurs and help, encourage or advise the person committing the crime you may face a type of crime called accessory in the second degree. If you are charged as an accessory before the fact or accessory in the second degree, you may face the same punishments as if you had committed the crime yourself. Depending on the crime committed, punishments will vary greatly. For example, if you helped someone commit a first-degree murder, you could be charged with first-degree murder as well and face similar punishments.
Additionally, if you help comfort, hide or otherwise assist someone who has committed a felony with the intent to help them escape capture, prosecution or punishment, you may face charges of accessory after the fact. If you are convicted, you will be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor and face up to one year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.
If you are facing accessory or aiding and abetting charges, you need an experienced team to represent you. Contact the Alexandria, Virginia law offices of Anderson & Wooditch, PC. With 23 years of representing those charged with all types of crimes, from traffic tickets to murder, we have the expertise to effectively argue your case. We treat each client as part of our family. Contact our offices today for your free case evaluation.
