Which statement correctly describes an accessory after the fact?

Which statement correctly describes an accessory after the fact?

• A. Involved in the planning
• B. Assists after the crime
• C. Is the principal actor
• D. Has no liability

Answer: (B)

An accessory after the fact is someone who helps a person who has already committed a crime, after the crime has occurred, with the aim of helping them avoid arrest, trial, or punishment. That’s why the statement describing assistance after the crime is the correct one. They aren’t involved in planning or committing the offense, so they aren’t the principal actor, but they do face liability for the help they give after the fact—it’s a separate offense from the underlying crime. For example, hiding the offender, destroying evidence, or lying to investigators. The other descriptions fit different roles: planning involvement points to an accomplice before the fact, the principal actor is the one who commits the crime, and having no liability is false because there is liability for assisting after the fact.

An accessory after the fact is someone who helps a person who has already committed a crime, after the crime has occurred, with the aim of helping them avoid arrest, trial, or punishment. That’s why the statement describing assistance after the crime is the correct one. They aren’t involved in planning or committing the offense, so they aren’t the principal actor, but they do face liability for the help they give after the fact—it’s a separate offense from the underlying crime. For example, hiding the offender, destroying evidence, or lying to investigators. The other descriptions fit different roles: planning involvement points to an accomplice before the fact, the principal actor is the one who commits the crime, and having no liability is false because there is liability for assisting after the fact.