If you have been charged with committing a conspiracy, you are probably also facing other charges. Being accused of criminal activities is hard enough, and facing multiple charges can be a scary prospect.
Having a Kent County conspiracy lawyer advise you can lessen that fear and uncertainty. The first step is simply being aware of what the law is and what exactly the charges are. The next are figuring out what the potential consequences are and how an experienced criminal lawyer can help fight for you.
Michigan Conspiracy LawsA conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to engage in a criminal activity or to commit a legal act by illegal means. There is no conspiracy if there was never an agreement.
Simply overhearing about a criminal plan does not make an individual a part of that conspiracy. There is no conspiracy if what the individual is agreeing to do is legal. When charged with conspiracy, a person may also be charged with the crime that was part of the agreement, or an attempt to commit that crime.
Unlike other states, Michigan continues to follow the traditional rule regarding conspiracy. Other states allow individuals to abandon or withdraw from a conspiracy if the person can prove this that is a defense to a conspiracy charge.
However, Michigan does not follow other states, and in Kent County, the crime is agreeing to commit the crime itself. It does not matter is a person later changes their mind.
Consequences of ConvictionUnder the law, someone can be punished up to the same amount as though they had committed the crime. Kent County conspiracy lawyers have seen that the court has the discretion to impose a $10,000 fine. If the conspiracy was about illegal gambling, the person can be placed in prison up to five years and/or have to pay a fine of $10,000.
However, if the actual crime has a maximum sentence of one year, then the conspiracy charge cannot lead to a conviction more than one year or a fine of more than $1,000. If the person was committing a legal act by illegal means, they cannot be imprisoned for more than five years and/or pay a fine more than $10,000.
Fighting a Conspiracy ChargeA Kent County conspiracy lawyer can help potential clients in a number of ways both before and during a trial. The lawyer can speak to the prosecutor on their behalf to see if the charges can be dropped or reduced.
With a conspiracy charge, there are naturally multiple defendants, since there have to be at least two people involved in a conspiracy. A lawyer can use this as an advantage to see if a deal can be worked out with the government.
If that is not an option, the lawyer can use a variety of legal defenses in court to have a case dismissed or try to get an acquittal. However, each defense is extremely specific to the person’s particular situation.
Contact a LawyerSpeaking to a Kent County conspiracy lawyer can give you a better idea of how to prepare for a case and what arguments your lawyer can present to fight for you.
When you are already facing a potential criminal charge, the last thing you want to add to your plate is to figure out the law on your own and how to represent yourself. Having an attorney can give you and your family peace of mind during this difficult time.