When someone commits a crime, the authorities may look at ways in which other parties assisted them in the act. We’ve all seen the legal dramas where a savvy detective takes someone in for questioning and badgers important information out of them with threats of aiding and abetting the accused.
But aiding and abetting isn’t just a plot device used in legal dramas. The authorities can and do take aiding and abetting seriously, and they can make a person’s life very difficult with these charges. If you have been accused of aiding and abetting, you should immediately contact a criminal defense attorney. The Kentucky aiding and abetting defense lawyers with Dan Carman and Attorneys will provide you with a skilled, aggressive defense and make sure that your rights are protected.
What is Aiding and Abetting?
Aiding and abetting occurs when someone assists another person in the act of committing a crime. The assistance provided can vary widely. It can include knowing about a crime before it is committed and not reporting it to the authorities, harboring a fugitive, lying to the authorities on behalf of an accused or giving materials to someone to use in committing a crime.
The authorities can find many ways to make a crime stick to several parties that weren’t directly involved in the act itself. These charges might be used to gain leverage over a person to solicit cooperation in a case.
How Serious is an Aiding and Abetting Criminal Charge?
Aiding and abetting charges are typically pursued only in cases where the crime committed was serious. For example, if someone is caught speeding, the authorities won’t go out of their way to find out what person in the driver’s life assisted them in the process. These charges are often reserved for crimes like robbery, kidnapping or murder, in which case an aiding and abetting charge can be very serious.
The fines and penalties levied against someone with an aiding and abetting charge will often depend on the crime committed. If the initial crime is robbery and there were no victims, then the charges will likely be less severe than they would in a murder case.
The Importance of a Criminal Defense Attorney
Regardless of the charges against you, it is always best to retain the services of a criminal defense attorney. However, it is especially true in cases involving aiding and abetting. The chances are good that, if you are charged with aiding and abetting, the authorities will seek to get information out of you regarding a crime.
What you say to the authorities when questioned about your role in a crime will have massive implications on the chances you that are charged for aiding and abetting and the severity of the charges against you. A criminal defense attorney knows how to deal with the authorities and help their client avoid incriminating themselves during questioning.
Contact Dan Carman and Attorneys
If you have been charged with aiding or abetting or if you believe that you might be charged in the future, contact us to talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney. The sooner you have an attorney act on your behalf, the better your chances of avoiding a criminal charge.
If you are questioned by police officers, it is important to remember that you don’t have to answer their questions. If they place you under arrest, you should call a lawyer immediately. You aren’t obligated to answer questions. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.
To speak to one of our criminal defense lawyers, contact Dan Carman and Attorneys to learn more.
