Principals, Accomplices, Conspirators- The Criminal Categorizations You Need to Know!
Criminals are of three categories when it comes to law-
- Principals are the ones who commit the crime with their own hands.
- Accomplices are the ones who help the ‘principals’ commit the crime.
- Conspirators are the ones who plan to commit the crime.
Let’s explore this story to understand this concept better. Four friends- A, B, C, and D- plan to rob a house. They drive up to their targeted house at midnight. A stays in the car, as he is the one driving the vehicle. B, C, and D step outside and move towards their target.
Now, just before entering the house, B stands on the doorway and keeps a watch, while C and D enter and loot whatever they find. Now, when these four friends are caught, who’ll be the principal, the accomplice, and the conspirator?
Let’s explore this blog till the end and find out. Along with this, we’ll also explore how a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can be of help.
Principals
Principals are individuals who are primarily charged with committing the offense. So, when we think or read about any criminal activity, these principals are the ones that we consider to be the criminals. It’s the principal who will be facing the primary charges for a crime.
Now, principals can be of two types. Principals in the first degree are the ones who commit the crime with their own hands. And principals in the second degree are the ones who were present during a criminal action, and help the principal, but do not actively participate.
In our story, all four friends would be charged as ‘principals.’ However, technically speaking, C and D were the ones to commit the crime firsthand, and they would be charged as principals of the first degree. A and B didn’t break any laws, but helped in the robbery. So, they might as well be charged as principals in the second degree.
This is why having a strong defense is vital for principals. If you’re ever accused of being the primary accused in a crime, a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can help reduce the charges.
Accomplices
Accomplices, also called ‘accessories,’ are people who assist in a crime, even though they might not be present at the scene.
Now, let’s come to A’s situation. He was in charge of driving the getaway car; therefore, he can be called an accomplice. The same goes with B, as he helped keep a watch to warn C and D of the police. So, he can be tagged as an accomplice in this instance as well. An accomplice is often charged with the same crime as the principal, or a related offense, because their actions contributed directly to the crime’s completion.
If you’re facing charges as an alleged accomplice, a knowledgeable Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can help clarify your level of involvement and come up with potential defenses.
Conspirators
Conspirators are people who agree to commit a crime. Each of the members involved in the conspiracy is therefore called a co-conspirator.
Coming to our story, all four friends can easily be called conspirators. Why so? Because even if C and D were the ones who committed the crime firsthand, all four of them agreed to the robbery and planned it together.
The key here lies in the intent to commit the crime. Also, you don’t even need the crime to be successfully completed! Hence, if A, B, C, and D were caught before they were going to rob, they’d still be charged as conspirators to the crime. Conspiracy charges can be complex and far-reaching. If you’re concerned about conspiracy allegations, consulting with a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer should be your immediate next step.So, if you’ve been charged with conspiracy or accomplice for a crime you have no knowledge about, Sean Logue and his team of expert Pittsburgh criminal lawyers can help you out! Contact at 844.PITT.DUI to schedule a free consultation.