ACCOMPLICE

accomplice (<<schwa>>-kom-plis).1. A person who is in any way involved with another in

the commission of a crime, whether as a principal in the first or second degree or as an accessory.

• Although the definition includes an accessory before the fact, not all authorities treat this term as

including  an  accessory  after  the  fact.  [Cases:  Criminal  Law    59.  C.J.S.  Criminal  Law  §§  127,

998.]

“There  is  some  authority  for  using  the  word  ‘accomplice’  to  include  all  principals  and  all

accessories, but the preferred usage is to include all principals and accessories before the fact, but

to  exclude  accessories  after  the  fact.  If  this  limitation  is  adopted,  the  word  ‘accomplice’  will

embrace all perpetrators, abettors and inciters.” Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal

Law 727 (3d ed. 1982).

“A person is an ‘accomplice’ of another in committing a crime if, with the intent to promote

or facilitate  the commission  of the  crime,  he solicits, requests, or commands the  other  person  to

commit it, or aids the other person in planning or committing it.” 1 Charles E. Torcia, Wharton’s

Criminal Law § 38, at 220 (15th ed. 1993).

2. A person who knowingly, voluntarily, and intentionally unites with the principal offender

in   committing   a   crime   and   thereby   becomes   punishable   for   it.   See   ACCESSORY.   Cf.

PRINCIPAL(2).“By  definition  an  accomplice  must  be  a  person  who  acts  with  the  purpose  of

promoting or facilitating the commission of the substantive offense for which he is charged as an

accomplice.  State  v.  White,  N.J.  1984,  484  A.2d  691,  98  N.J.  122.”  Model  Penal  Code  §  2.06

annot. (1997). [Blacks Law 8th]