(150) Am I responsible for my Co-Defendants Acts? Michael A Haber Miami Criminal DUI Lawyer
Channel: Michael Haber
Date: 2017-03-20

Thank you for asking me “If I am not armed and if I don’t hurt anyone am I responsible for the acts of my co-defendants?”

So, you and a buddy decide to burglarize my home.  You specifically agree that no one will carry a weapon, and that if anyone is home you will high tail it and run away.  But, as is often the case, things don’t go as planned.  When you get inside I am home, and I confront.  To your surprise your buddy pulls out a knife, and to his surprise I have a shotgun aimed at both of you .  Knowing that I have already dialed 911 and the cops are on the way I decide to hold you there at gunpoint, and when the police show up both you and your buddy are arrested.

The bad news is that you are both going to be charged with armed, occupied residential burglary, and you both will face life in prison. 

This is because of the principal theory, which holds that anyone who helps another to commit a crime is held equally accountable as each other person who was involved in the crime, regardless of their actual intent or role in the offense.

It doesn’t matter that you were not armed.  Nor does it matter that you had specifically agreed that no one would be armed.  In FL you will be held equally accountable for the actions of your co-defendants.

So, when you were a kid and your parents told you that you would be judged by the company that you keep, they weren’t joking.  When it comes to criminal court in FL you truly will be judged by the company that you keep. 

At Michael A. Haber, PA "it's all about reasonable doubt"!

Please note that no attorney-client relationship with either Michael A. Haber, PA or Michael A. Haber, Esq. exists as a result of your watching this Webisode series.  Further any and all information which is both contained in and may be construed from this Webisode series is generic in nature and should only be considered as informational and not as actual legal advise in any specific case.  Should you wish to seek actual legal advise then please feel free to contact Michael A. Haber, Esq. as follows:

Office Phone:  305-381-8686
Toll Free Phone:  1-888-SHARK-8-1
Cellular Phone / Text:  305-798-2220
http://www.criminallaw.miami 
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Blog:  http://habercriminallaw.blogspot.com/

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