Assisting a person after they commit a crime is charged as Accessory to Crime in Castle Rock and Douglas County. A man is currently wanted for fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop. The man was able to flee into the night and has remained hidden for almost a week. Police suspect that the man is being helped by others. If this is the case, anyone who helped keep the man from being found would likely be charged with Accessory to a Crime – even if they had nothing to do with the initial shooting.

Douglas County Accessory to Crime Lawyer: Definition of Accessory to a Crime

The Douglas County, Colorado law definition of Accessory to Crime – C.R.S. 18-8-105 – is: 

“

(1) A person is an accessory to crime if, with intent to hinder, delay, or prevent the discovery, detection, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for the commission of a crime, he renders assistance to such person.

(2) "Render assistance" means to:

(a)  Harbor or conceal the other; or

(a.5) Harbor or conceal the victim or a witness to the crime; or

(b) Warn such person of impending discovery or apprehension; except that this does not apply to a warning given in an effort to bring such person into compliance with the law; or

(c) Provide such person with money, transportation, weapon, disguise, or other thing to be used in avoiding discovery or apprehension; or

(d) By force, intimidation, or deception, obstruct anyone in the performance of any act which might aid in the discovery, detection, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of such person; or

(e) Conceal, destroy, or alter any physical or testimonial evidence that might aid in the discovery, detection, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of such person.”

Even just allowing the man to stay at your house, not necessarily hiding him, would be enough to charge this crime.

Sentence for Accessory to Crime in Highlands Ranch and Parker

In Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, and Parker, Accessory to Crime is charged based on the initial crime committed by the person you are helping. Murder, like in the case above, is usually a class 1 or class 2 felony, meaning anyone helping the man wanted for this crime would face a class 5 felony Accessory charge. Accessory can also be charged as a class 4 felony or class 1 misdemeanor depending on the circumstances.

If you have been charged with Accessory to Crime, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 303-265-1950. Together, we can protect your future.

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