Many people have found themselves in situations where someone you know is up to no good. If they ask you to go along with whatever they have planned, you might find yourself agreeing. Unfortunately, this can lead to an accomplice charge – even if you did not commit the actual crime.
In Michigan, accomplices can receive the same sentence as the primary offender. For a robbery accomplice, this can mean getting sentenced to up to 15 years in state prison for an unarmed robbery or up to life in prison for an armed robbery. If you have been charged as an accomplice to robbery, you should immediately contact a Northern Michigan criminal defense attorney.
The legal team of Mas/Stig-Nielsen works hard to help our clients get the best possible outcome for their case. Whether you have been charged as the primary perpetrator or as an accomplice to a robbery, we can help to protect your rights. To learn more or to talk to a Traverse City criminal defense lawyer, contact our law offices today.
Accomplice Liability in Michigan
In many criminal cases, there is both a primary offender and an accomplice. For example, one person acts as a lookout while another person breaks into a house. The first person would be considered an accomplice while the second person is the primary offender.
An accomplice is a person who aids, assists, or abets another person in committing a crime. Under Michigan law, there is no distinction between the primary perpetrator and the accomplice when it comes to sentencing. In other words, the accomplice may receive the same sentence for the crime as the person who actually committed the crime.
To convict a person as an accomplice, a prosecutor will have to demonstrate that they specifically intended for the crime to occur or knew that the primary offender intended to commit the offense. This means that if you genuinely didn’t know that another person was planning to commit a crime, it may be a defense to an accomplice charge.
When it comes to accomplices in a robbery, this means that someone who helps another person commit a robbery will potentially face the same sentence as the person who committed the crime. In Michigan, there are two types of robbery charges: armed and unarmed robbery. Both are felony crimes that carry potential sentences of 15 years (unarmed robbery) to life (armed robbery) in prison.
A robbery occurs when a person uses threat or force to permanently take property from another person, with or without a dangerous weapon. A mugging would be considered a robbery. If you help someone else commit a robbery, you could be charged as an accomplice and face a significant amount of prison time.
What Should I Do If I Am Charged As an Accomplice in Michigan?
If you are charged as a robbery accomplice in Michigan, you must exercise your constitutional rights to remain silent and to counsel. Anything that you say to the police or prosecution could be used against you in a prosecution. The police are not talking to you to try to get your side of the story; they are trying to build a case against you.
The best way to protect yourself in this situation is by retaining an experienced Traverse City criminal attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can handle communications with the police and prosecutors for you. They will also start to investigate the case and build a strong defense to the charges against you.
There are ways to defend against a robbery accomplice charge. This could include everything from proving that you weren’t there (alibi defense) to introducing evidence that you didn’t know about the robbery (lack of specific intent). For example, if your friend asks if you’d like to go along with him to see an acquaintance, you might not have had any idea that he had a gun and planned to rob this other person. Your lawyer can interview witnesses and build a case to prove a lack of intent.
Because the potential consequences of an accomplice to robbery conviction are so severe, you must have experienced legal counsel by your side. We represent people charged with violent crimes and property crimes throughout Northern Michigan. We will work hard to protect your rights and your freedom.
Facing Criminal Charges? Reach Out Today.
It may not seem fair, but accomplices may receive the same sentence for the offense as the person who actually committed the crime. For robbery, this could mean a felony conviction and 15 years or more in prison. If you are being investigated for your role in a robbery, contact our law offices as soon as possible for skilled legal advice.
At Mas/Stig-Nielsen, we offer strategic, proactive legal representation to people charged with crimes in Michigan. We work hard to protect our clients’ rights and help them get the best possible outcome. To learn more or to talk to a Traverse City criminal defense attorney, contact our law firm by calling us at 231-714-4128 or by filling out our online contact form.
