Accessory shares criminal liability for the criminal acts committed by another
An accessory can be one or more who assist another in the commission of a crime. There are two types of accessories:
Accessory before and after the fact
Let’s consider the classic bank robbery. Two suspects enter the bank with guns drawn and demand the tellers give them the cash. These are the principal actors of the crime. The person who planned the scheme but was not present when the crime was committed is called an accessory before the fact. The suspect waiting at the safe house for the others to arrive is called an accessory after the fact.
In most states, each accessory is equally liable for bank robbery.
