Aiding & Abetting

Some crimes are straightforward: for example, one person acting alone breaks into a car and is later arrested, without anyone else involved. In cases like that, prosecutors only need to press charges against the person who broke into the car. If that same person sought help, those people can be charged as accessories to the crime. If you have been charged with aiding and abetting, even if you had nothing to do with the crime, you need the help of an experienced defense lawyer.

The charge of accessory, or aiding and abetting, is designed to prosecute people who have helped the person responsible. If you are a locksmith and give out information on a certain type of lock, you may be held accountable for that person’s actions. But there are many cases where a person helped someone who committed a crime, but without knowing that person had done so. The gray area can be enormous, making both prosecution and defense complicated.

As an example of the potential complexity, consider this: people charged with aiding and abetting are family members of the person charged with the principle crime. If your sibling comes to you distressed, and you were aware they had committed a crime, you could be charged as an accessory to your sibling’s crime. On the other hand, the obligations family members feel toward one another can make the waters cloudier. With the help of a lawyer, however, you can set the facts straight.

Contact Us

If you have been charged with aiding and abetting, seeking the help of an experienced Illinois personal injury lawyer today can help you clear your name. To discuss your case with an experienced Champaign defense lawyer, contact the law office of Bruno Law Offices today at (217) 328-6000.