As examined above, people do not need to commit a criminal act to face punishment under the state’s conspiracy laws. In the worst-case scenario, a conspiracy conviction can mean felony charges along with a prison sentence of five years.
However, the same concept under the law states that a conspiracy conviction cannot bring a harsher penalty than would be available had a person followed through with committing the offense at the core of the matter. This can apply to misdemeanor-level crimes, such as certain thefts and assaults. A Columbia conspiracy lawyer could use their knowledge of the law to build a defense that helps an accused individual avoid these stiff penalties.