Miltenberger Law Offices

A criminal conspiracy sounds darker than the material used to write a horror novel. In some ways, it is. In your criminal case, you might become the target of additional criminal charges if a prosecutor believes you are part of a criminal conspiracy or thinks that he/she can prove such claims. You first must familiarize yourself with what a criminal conspiracy is, and then how it can be proved or disproved in court.

What a Criminal Conspiracy Is

The prosecution says you did not act alone. You had at least one other person involved in your criminal activity. The two (or more) of you planned to do something illegal, and then you took at least the first concrete step towards your intended plans. This may look like planning to murder someone, distributing narcotics, rob a bank or business, kidnap someone, etc. The prosecutor makes claims that your partner or partners in crime have evidence proving you were and are part of a conspiracy to commit a criminal act.

How Your Lawyer Can Disprove It

Adding “criminal conspiracy” to your list of charges seriously complicates your case. Don’t worry. Your lawyer first has to show that you did not commit a crime, unless there is actual evidence and credible witnesses. If you did commit the crime in question, then your lawyer has to prove that you allegedly committed a crime alone, acting as a sole offender. It may also drag out your case longer than you expected.

A charge of criminal conspiracy compounds your punishment should you be found guilty on related charges, which is why your lawyer has to show that you acted alone. Whenever possible, it is best to prove that you didn’t do something, because then the criminal conspiracy charge usually becomes null and void. Innocence trumps conspiracy to commit a crime almost every time. Still, be prepared for whatever the prosecutor may produce as evidence or as witnesses.