Conspiracy charges under Penal Code Section 182 require the prosecutor to prove that there was an agreement to commit a crime by two or more people, and that one of the persons took some action or step to accomplish the crime. Conspiracy charges are serious because they may result in a person facing the same penalties as for the underlying crime itself, even if the person is not the one who carried out the crime. For example, if a defendant conspired to commit arson, he could face up to the same number of years that he would face as if he had actually committed the crime of arson – even if he himself did nothing to commit the arson. So, in order to be found guilty, the defendant doesn’t need to have completed the crime, or even know all of the people involved in the conspiracy.
If you are facing conspiracy charges, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer to learn your rights and options without delay. Please call Robbi A. Cook for a confidential and free consultation at (510) 208-5051.
