Is it true that people can easily go to jail for unknowingly being an accessory to a crime?

Question

I'm extremely scared. I'm also confused. If you keep your mouth shut, you're an accessory to a crime, but if you report a crime, you're at risk for being murdered. You can't win either way. Me personally, I'd rather report a crime & die innocently, rather than spending physical eternity in jail just for doing nothing.

Answer 1

Yes. I spent 2 weeks in jail for being an accessory after the fact and for obstructing justice. 3 doors down from my house a man was assaulted with a knife by his brother. I was at work at the time and missed the whole thing. When I returned home there was a note on my door to contact the police. I called the station and they asked me to be a witness to the crime. I told them I had seen nothing as I was at work. 2 officers came to my home that evening and arrested me and said I wouldn't be released until I agreed to testify against the man in court. 15 days later he agreed to a plea bargain and I was released. In this country you do what the police want or you go to jail.

Answer 2

No its not true.

To be convicted of most crimes you need to have the necessary "intent". Therefore it is extremely unlikely to be "unknowingly an accessory to a crime".

In my state you can become an accessory to a crime in a couple of different ways, however the "usual" way is:

"A person who aids, abets, or assists in the perpetration of a criminal offense becomes an accessory to that offense and is chargeable and punishable as a principal," The aidding/abeting/assisting etc can be after the fact, like hiding the murder weapon, or helping the dirty escape etc,

By just keeping your mouth shut you would not become an accessory. Its possible you could face contempt of court charges for not testifying or obstruction of justice charges etc.

As for getting murdered for being a witness: Yes it does happen, but it is very rarely, especially when you consider the tens of thousands of citizens who bear witness each week across the country.

As for "Bill's" fairy tale-he's either BSing or missing out a great deal in his story.

Answer 3

Being an accessory does require knowledge. There's a limit to how much a reasonable person can overlook, but if you're scared, you may have passed that point.

If you loaned someone your car to go get a pizza, and they robbed a store or dumped a body, that doesn't make you an accessory unless you know that's what they did.

If you help a friend wash their car, that doesn't make you an accessory unless you pull a shoe out of the grill and notice the bloodstains.

Answer 4

yes you can and if they want you spend time in prison. first they don't care about you not even the lawyers if you don't have the money. remember its all about the money and how much they will get. if you are poor or middle class then most likely you will spend time weather in jail or prison until things get cleared up and who knows when that will be. look at all the people that got a way with stuff because they had money or lots of it. and your normal Joe most always spend time. there are people who have spent years in jail or prison and then they find out they are innocent. they don't care only if you have money

Answer 5

Yes. It's like they say: Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

Answer 6

Yes that is true. I've seen it happen many times. That's why we must all be careful of the people that we associate with.

Answer 7

You're right on both counts.

I'd do the same.

Answer 8

yep there is a saying, "ignorance of the law does not excuse it"

Answer 9

yes they can