Stamford Conspiracy Lawyer

If you have been arrested for conspiracy in Stamford, Connecticut, then it is important that you reach out to an experienced Stamford conspiracy lawyer as soon as possible. Conspiracy charges can lead to serious penalties and even potential felony convictions, depending on the underlying criminal charges.

Because of the relatively low evidentiary threshold needed to support a conspiracy conviction, many people find themselves facing these serious charges even if they were never actively involved in committing a criminal act.

A conspiracy charge could result in years of jail time, regardless of whether or not you took overt steps to break the law. A knowledgeable Stamford lawyer has defended clients against conspiracy charges relating to all types of underlying offenses, and can help you determine the best way to defend yourself based on the circumstances of your case.

Connecticut’s Conspiracy Statute

A person commits the crime of conspiracy when they agree with one or more other people to commit a crime, and one of them commits an overt act in furtherance of that crime.

This definition requires the prosecution to prove only that a crime was agreed to by two or more people, and that one of them took action based on their plan in order to convict everyone involved.

Because of the legal elements required for a conspiracy conviction, it is possible for a defendant who never took any overt action to be found guilty of conspiracy if the prosecution can prove they agreed to commit a crime.

A conspiracy can arise in connection with any type of criminal act, including but not limited to burglary, murder, rape, identity theft, fraud, shoplifting, etc. Once a defendant has agreed to commit a criminal act with one or more others, an overt act by any co-conspirator in connection with carrying out the plan is all that is needed to convict everyone involved in the conspiracy.

Renunciation Defense

Renunciation is defined as a co-conspirator taking active steps to thwart the crime he or she previously conspired to commit, under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of his criminal purpose.

In order to use renunciation as a defense to escape the penalties for conspiracy, a co-conspirator must show they took affirmative actions to ensure that the criminal enterprise previously agreed to would not be able to take place.

Connecticut law provides for a defense to a conspiracy charge within the statute itself – the defense of renunciation. Although the term implies that an actor can merely renounce his or her intention to commit the crime conspired to, in order to be a defense to a conspiracy charge, renunciation requires more than an oral renunciation of the criminal plan.

Benefits of an Attorney

In order to arrest an individual for conspiracy, police must have probable cause to believe that they agreed to commit a crime, that they intended to commit the crime, and that they or a co-conspirator engaged in an “overt act” in furtherance of the crime. As there will be multiple defendants involved in a conspiracy case, the prosecution will often seek to establish these elements through the testimony of co-conspirators.

Following arrests related to suspected conspiracies, law enforcement officers frequently offer suspects leniency in exchange for testimony implicating their co-conspirators. This type of plea-bargaining is dangerous and may not be in an individual’s best interests. The assistance of an experienced Stamford conspiracy lawyer in these situations is very important to ensure the defendant is aware of their legal rights at all times.

Contacting an Experienced Stamford Conspiracy Lawyer

If you are facing conspiracy charges, then you need to understand the legal elements required to convict you, as well as your legal defense options. In today’s high-tech electronic age, police are often easily able to prove that potentially criminal actions were discussed by accessing chat, text, and email records.

Without experienced legal help, a comment made in jest can lead to a serious conspiracy conviction. An experienced Stamford conspiracy attorney can help you avoid the harsh consequences of a conspiracy conviction.