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Massachusetts Joint Venture Attorney

In Massachusetts, criminal defendants can obviously be punished for personally committing a crime. Criminal defendants can also be punished if they intentionally assist someone else in committing a crime, even if they are not personally involved in the actual commission of a crime. This legal principle is called “joint venture” (also known as aiding and abetting). Joint venturers are subject to the same penalties as the principal. For example, a person who is convicted of first-degree murder under a joint venture theory will be sentenced to life in prison. If you are facing criminal charges, speak with Massachusetts joint venture attorney Chris Spring by calling (617) 513-9444.

Joint Venture Prosecution

Under a joint venture prosecution, the Commonwealth bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:

  1. Knowingly and intentionally participated in the commission of the crime in a meaningful way; and
  2. Shared the same intent as the principal.

Who could be charged with a crime under a joint venture theory?

  • The person who agrees to act as the lookout or the getaway driver during a bank robbery
  • The person who lures the victim to a particular location where he is then assaulted by the principal
  • The person who works in a warehouse and provides information about the security system to allow the principal to break in and steal merchandise
  • The person who obtains a gun and passes it on to the principal for use in a crime

In all of these scenarios, the person who provided assistance to the person actually committing the crime could be charged with the same crime as a joint venturer.

Beyond a reasonable doubt

Remember that the Commonwealth is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the joint venturer intended to be helpful to the principal. Mere presence at a crime scene is insufficient to support a criminal conviction. Even if an individual knows about the intended crime in advance and did nothing to try to prevent the intended crime, he cannot be convicted unless the Commonwealth proves he intended to assist the principal in some meaningful way.

What happens when someone is involved in the planning of a crime but decides ahead of time not to go through with it? A person can withdraw from a joint venture and not face criminal sanctions. A defendant withdraws only when he communicates his withdrawal from the joint venture to everyone else involved and does so early enough to allow the other joint venturers to abandon their plan to commit the crime. If the defendant argues at trial that he withdrew from a joint venture, the Commonwealth bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the withdrawal was not sufficient.

The person who assists the principal after the crime has been completed is not guilty under a joint venture theory, but he could be charged with accessory after the fact.

The most common defense in these cases is that the defendant simply did not know what was happening around him. For example, was the defendant intentionally acting as a getaway driver or was he simply offering a ride to a friend? It’s often difficult for the prosecutor to prove the alleged joint venturer knew about the crime and was actively participating in its commission.

Contact a Middlesex Criminal Defense Attorney at Spring and Spring Today

Contact us today to speak with an experienced Massachusetts joint venture lawyer. Your first consultation is always free.