DC Conspiracy Lawyer
A Washington DC conspiracy lawyer will help guide you through the complexities of the criminal justice system. Following is the basic information you would need if facing a conspiracy charge in Washington DC.
A criminal conspiracy in Washington DC is defined as an agreement between two or more persons to accomplish an unlawful act together, or to achieve by criminal or unlawful means an act not in itself criminal or unlawful.
In order for there to be a conspiracy in Washington DC, an act must be shown to have occurred by at least one of the conspirators and the act must be performed in order to further the purpose of the conspiracy. In Washington DC, it is necessary to show that the parties intended to make an agreement to commit a criminal act and that the parties had knowledge of the conspiracy and of what the conspiracy intended to do. In Washington DC, conspiracy carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
A conspiracy to commit a crime is an offense separate and distinct from the crime that is the object of the conspiracy, and carries a separate sentence. Thus, in Washington DC, a criminal conspiracy is punishable both where it fails and where the intended crime is accomplished.
The agreement to accomplish the criminal act may be inferred from the surrounding circumstances, including declarations and/or statements, acts, and the conduct of the alleged conspirators. The agreement does not need to be entered into by all the parties at the same time, but it can be reached by future actions showing the joining of the conspiracy. A conspiracy exists in Washington DC from the time of forming the criminal agreement until it terminates by abandonment, frustration, or the achievement of the conspiracy’s objective. Establishing the intent necessary for a conspiracy in Washington DC requires showing not only that the conspirators intended to agree, but also that they intended to commit elements of the underlying offense. For liability as a coconspirator, a person must have knowledge of the existence of the conspiracy and knowledge of the illegal object of the conspiracy. Mere knowledge of the existence of the conspiracy, without a showing of some degree of knowing involvement and cooperation in the conspiracy agreement, does not give rise to liability as a coconspirator.
