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Simple English definitions for legal terms
conspirator
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A quick definition of conspirator:
A conspirator is someone who agrees with others to do something illegal. They can be charged with the crime of conspiracy and can also be held responsible for the crimes committed by their co-conspirators, even if they didn't do it themselves. The agreement to commit the crime doesn't have to be formal or written down. If someone didn't know they were participating in a crime, they can't be convicted as a conspirator. For example, if someone drove a friend to the bank and didn't know they were going to rob it, they wouldn't be a conspirator.
A more thorough explanation:
A conspirator is someone who is part of a group of people who agree to commit an illegal act. This agreement is called a conspiracy. The conspirator can be charged with the crime of conspiracy and can also be held responsible for the crimes committed by their co-conspirators, even if they did not personally commit the crimes.
The agreement to commit the crime does not have to be formal or in writing. However, a person who is unaware of their participation in a crime cannot be convicted as a conspirator.
If a person drives their friend to the bank, not knowing that their friend plans to rob the bank, they cannot be considered a conspirator. However, if the person knew about the plan to rob the bank and agreed to help, they could be charged as a conspirator.
Another example is if a group of people plan to sell drugs and one person agrees to help by providing a location for the drug sales. Even if that person does not personally sell drugs, they can still be charged as a conspirator for their involvement in the illegal activity.