We Can Fight Your Charges Anywhere in Fresno,Tulare, Madera & Kings Counties
Conspiring to commit a crime, even without actually doing the crime, is a crime itself in California. The crime of "conspiracy" involves an agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime. In many cases, however, conspiracy charges are tacked on to some other type of crime, such as drug trafficking, robbery, theft, homicide, gang-related activities, and any number of other crimes. Depending on the underlying crimes involved, the penalties for conspiracy could include years in prison and heavy fines upon conviction.
If you have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, or are simply being investigated for conspiracy, contact Wapner Jones, PC today. Having earned a 10.0 “Superb” Avvo Rating and an inclusion on The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 list for our unmatched client satisfaction and aggressive advocacy, our criminal defense lawyers in Fresno can challenge the evidence against you and minimize your chances of conviction.
Your future may be at stake. Call (559) 266-8604 today to evaluate your defense options.
What Exactly Is a Conspiracy?
Legally speaking, a conspiracy is a criminal agreement between two or more people, known as “conspirators,” to engage in some sort of illegal act. Individuals can be convicted of conspiracy under California law even if they do not know all of the other conspirators or their level involvement. To convict a defendant of conspiracy, however, the prosecution must be able to satisfy the following elements:
- The defendant intentionally entered into an agreement to commit a crime
- The defendant committed an overt act in furtherance of this agreement
- The overt act was committed in the state of California
An “overt act” is an act completed to help the group commit the agreed-upon crime. This act must be committed after the agreement was made, though it does not need to be a crime itself. For example, purchasing ski masks or a firearm after agreeing to commit armed robbery can be considered an overt act, even though these acts may be perfectly legal on their own.
Let Us Guard Your Future and Freedom
While the criminal justice system is built on the principle that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty, merely the implication that a person may have planned to commit a crime can be enough to place doubts and prejudices in the minds of the prosecution, jury, and judge. At Wapner Jones, PC, our Fresno criminal lawyers can level the playing field and give you a fighting chance against the charges. We understand the severity of your situation, and are prepared to go the distance to help you get through this difficult time with your freedom and dignity intact.
The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start building your defense.