In Minnesota, aiding and abetting a sexual abuse offender is broken into three categories: helping and concealing, obstructing the investigation, and taking responsibility for criminal acts. If the prosecution can prove that an accomplice had the intent to help with the sexual abuse being committed, the following penalties may apply:
Helping and Concealing
Penalty of up to three years in prison or $5,000, or both, for aiding an offender.
Obstructing the Investigation
Penalty of up to half the statutory maximum prison time and half the maximum fine for the offender’s crime.
Aiding with Responsibility
Aiding with responsibility is charged separately from the original crime, which, if only tried for orchestrating, can face up to half the maximum imprisonment time and half the maximum fines. However, there can still be a charge for the original crime.
The punishments for aiding and abetting criminal sexual conduct are proportional to the abuse’s severity.