Accessory
Definition
Someone aiding in or contributing to the commission or concealment of a felony, e.g. by assisting in planning or encouraging another to commit a crime (an accessory before the fact) or by helping another escape arrest or punishment (an accessory after the fact). An accessory, unlike an accomplice, is typically not present when the crime is committed.
Illustrative caselaw
See, e.g. Lankford v. Idaho, 500 U.S. 110 (1990).
See also
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
Someone who intentionally helps another person commit a felony by giving advice before the crime or helping to conceal the evidence or the perpetrator. An accessory is usually not physically present during the crime. For example, hiding a robber who is being sought by the police might make someone an "accessory after the fact" to a robbery. Compare: accomplice
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:10 pm
