You could be facing serious consequences if you’ve been charged with aiding and abetting a criminal offense in California. Even though you didn’t directly commit the crime, you could be facing the same penalties as the actual perpetrator of the crime. For instance, if you aided and abetted someone in a robbery that resulted in a murder, you could be charged with both, even if you weren’t present when the crime took place.

California Penal Code 31 – Parties To A Crime

In California, you can be charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense even if you didn’t perpetuate the crime directly. Under Section 31 of the California penal code, any person involved in committing a crime, whether a misdemeanor or felony offense, can be charged with that crime. This includes the person(s) who directly perpetrated the crime as well as anyone who aided, abetted, advised, or encouraged its commission.

Some examples of aiding and abetting include:

• Assisting in a crime, such as serving as a lookout or getaway driver.
• Providing information to someone who will use it to commit a crime
• Creating an alibi for someone who committed a crime
• Setting someone up to be the victim of a crime.
• Providing someone with access to a business outside of operating hours, knowing they will commit an act of theft.

You can also be charged with aiding and abetting if you counsel, advise, command, coerce, or encourage children under the age of fourteen years, or persons who are too mentally incapacitated to commit a crime.

Defenses Against Aiding and Abetting in Orange County, CA

If you’ve been charged with aiding and abetting a crime in Orange County, CA it’s important to protect your rights. You can be convicted of aiding and abetting even if you only played a minor role in the crime. Depending on the offense, you could be facing hefty fines, a lengthy jail sentence, or even death.

To get their conviction, the prosecution must show that you:

• Had knowledge of the perpetrator’s intention to commit a crime, and
• Intentionally aided, abetted, advised, or encouraged the perpetrator in the commission of the crime.

There are several possible defenses against charges of aiding and abetting in Orange County, CA, including:

• The defendant had no knowledge of the crime;
• The defendant did not aid, abet, advise, or encourage the commission of the crime;
• The defendant only became involved after the crime had been committed;
• The accusations are false; or
• Mistaken identity.

Aiding and Abetting is a Serious Offense – Speak to an Orange County CA Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Jim Tanizaki is a former Orange County DA turned criminal defense attorney. This experience gives Jim an edge few attorneys possess. He knows the tactics the state will use to get their conviction and how to craft effective defense strategies against their charges. Jim’s skilled legal representation often results in reduced or dropped charges against his clients.

Aiding and abetting a crime is a serious offense. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you, the better. Contact the law offices of Jim Tanizaki through our website or call us at (714) 655-7633 to schedule a free initial consultation with a leading Orange County, CA criminal defense lawyer.