Conspiracy is the crime of two or more people agreeing to commit another crime.  Once the agreement to  commit the other crime has been made, the crime of conspiracy has been completed.  Unlike other crimes where a defendant is responsible only for the actions that he commits, if a person is charged with conspiracy, they can be held accountable for the actions of their co-conspirators, so long as the actions of the co-conspirators are the natural and probable consequence of the conspiracy.

One case, People v. Superior Court (Quinteros), illustrates how a defendant can be held accountable for the actions of his co-conspirators.  In this case, a fight involving gang members and a non gang member got out of control.    After fighting with a non gang member who had trespassed on his territory, the defendant got help from his fellow gang members.  The defendant and the other gang members agreed to get back at the non gang member.  At this point, the crime of conspiracy had likely been committed.  The gang members then found the non gang member and beat him to death.  The defendant, however, was unconscious at the time of the beating.  Despite not participating in the actual beating of the victim, the defendant was held responsible for the acts of his co-conspirators, because the death was a natural consequence of agreeing to beat the victim.

If you are charged with conspiracy, you may be responsible for not only your actions, but the actions of others.  This is why you absolutely need the assistance of counsel beyond that which the Public Defender can provide.

The Law Office of Michael S. Carrillo can help.  We can offer agressive and affordable criminal defense.  Please call for a free consultation.