Source: http://billhaneylaw.com/practice-areas/accessory-after-the-fact-penal-code-section-32/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 00:33:26+00:00

Document:
Example No. 2: The police are actively looking to arrest Bob for the crime of murder. The police contact Bob’s sister at his residence. She knows from news reports that the police have an arrest warrant for her brother. Bob’s sister tells the police that he fled to Arizona on a motorcycle the previous day. Her misinformation temporarily throws investigators off of Bob’s trail. Her lies would constitute the Crime of Accessory After the Fact.
Knowledge & Intent. Defense counsel may attack evidence that his client “knew” that a felony had been committed when he assisted the perpetrator. Similarly, counsel may aggressively challenge any evidence that the defendant acted with the “intent” to help the perpetrator avoid arrest and punishment.
Because an Accessory must have a specific intent to help someone to avoid the justice system, “intoxication” and other factors relevant to his mental state may be admissible at the time of trial.
Identity of the Accessory. In many cases, defense counsel should aggressively challenge how the police identified the defendant, and the accuracy of any identification procedure utilized. The accuracy of photographic lineups, in field show-ups and live lineups can often be effectively challenged by an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Bill Haney is a former supervising attorney and homicide prosecutor in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Ventura County is widely known to be an aggressive law enforcement jurisdiction. Police and prosecutors typically act harshly towards any person who aids a friend or family member following the commission of a felony. Although the charge is a “wobbler”, i.e., it may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony, those arrested for Accessory After the Fact will almost always be charged with a felony in Ventura County.
The Accessory charge under Penal Code Section 32 is often used by prosecutors to compel the friends, family members and lesser accomplices of criminal defendants to testify against them in court. For example, it is common for a murder suspect to seek help from friends or family members to destroy evidence or flee the jurisdiction. Law enforcement officials will attempt to track down the family member (the Accessory), arrest him or her, and offer leniency in exchange for testimony against the perpetrator. Leniency could mean a reduced jail sentence, a misdemeanor conviction, or a complete dismissal of the criminal case in exchange for cooperation.
If you or a loved one are offered a leniency agreement in exchange for cooperation, any such deal should be negotiated with the help of an experienced attorney. As a prosecutor, Mr. Haney was responsible for negotiating and drafting leniency agreements for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for a 10-year period. Accordingly, he has the knowledge and experience to ensure that your rights are protected.
Often times, Ventura County prosecutors will aggressively bring charges against multiple individuals after the commission of a violent crime. Prosecutors in Ventura County are known to cast a “wide net.” By aggressively investigating and attacking the prosecutor’s case, it is sometimes possible to demonstrate that the defendant is guilty of the lesser charge of Accessory After the Fact, and not the more serious charge of robbery, murder, etc. This can make a tremendous difference in sentencing alternatives. Accessory After the Fact is not a “strike” offense. Additionally, upon the successful completion of probation, a defendant has the ability to petition the court to reduce his felony conviction to a misdemeanor, and ultimately to expunge his conviction altogether.
Beware! There is often a very fine line between the prosecutor’s decision to charge someone as an Accessory After the Fact and the underlying crime committed by the felony offender. For example, if the prosecutor’s office believes that it has the evidence to prove that a get-away driver KNEW that a robbery was planned before the commission of the robbery/homicide, the office may charge the defendant with MURDER and not as an Accessory to Murder After the Fact. Murder can be punished with a life sentence, and even death in some circumstances. If the prosecutor lacks the evidence of pre-existing knowledge, the same get-away driver is subject to no more than a three-year local prison sentence under Penal Code Section 32! Only an experienced, veteran trial lawyer should be consulted in helping you evaluate such a case!
2The underlying crime must be a felony. Penal Code Section 32 does not apply if the defendant attempted to help someone avoid responsibility for a misdemeanor offense.
3Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instructions No. 440. (Jan. 2006); see also People v. Nuckles (2013) 56 CVal.4th 601 [defining elements of crime of Accessory After the Fact].
4People v. Cooper (1991) 53 Cal.3d 1158, 1160-1161.
5People v. Plengsangtip (2007) 148 Cal.App.4th 825.
6People v Duty (1969) 269 Cal.App.3d 97, 103-104; People v. Plengsangtip (2007) 148 Cal.App.4th 825 [affirmative falsehoods can give rise to Accessory After the Fact prosecution].
7People v. Wilson (2005) 36 Cal.4th 309, 331.
8Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instruction 3402.
9Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instruction 3402.
10Penal Code Section § 33.

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