Philadelphia Aiding & Abetting Lawyers

Aiding and abetting is used to describe someone who assists another person (or group) commit a crime.  To be held accountable, you must have knowledge of the illegal objective and do something to help it occur.  For example, a man acting as driver for a getaway vehicle for a robbery would be considered an aider and abettor.  However, just being at the scene of a crime and knowing the crime is to occur does not classify someone as an aider or abettor.  It’s up to the prosecution to show that an aider and abettor had actually contributed to the perpetration of a crime.

Usually, those charged with aiding and abetting are not present when the crime is actually committed—however, they know of the crime either before and after it occurs and assist the principal criminal by other means.  Assisting through financial support, advice, or any other kind of support—each could be considered factors of aiding and abetting.   Depending on how involved the support was offenders may have their actions rise to the level of conspiracy.