You can be charged with conspiracy to commit a crime in Colorado even if you did not directly participate in the actual crime. In fact, you can be charged with criminal conspiracy for a crime that never happened.
Criminal conspiracy occurs when two or more people agree to commit a crime and take some significant action towards its completion. The agreement does not need to be formal or in writing. It can be a verbal agreement or an implied understanding by the individuals involved.
For instance, if you agree with someone else or a group of people to manufacture drugs and one of you proceeds to purchase the necessary equipment, you can all be charged with drug conspiracy charges regardless of whether you manufactured the drugs.
The penalties for criminal conspiracy in Colorado
Colorado law recognizes that conspirators are just as dangerous as the perpetrators of a crime, as they play a crucial role in planning and facilitating the criminal act. While it all depends on the underlying crime, the legal penalties can be severe.
Criminal conspiracy in Colorado is generally punished one level lower than the underlying crime. However, there are exceptions to this. You can be charged with conspiracy at the same level as the underlying crime, depending on the facts of your case.
It is in your best interests to seek legal representation as soon as possible if you are facing a conspiracy charge. A lot is at stake if convicted, besides the possibility of imprisonment. As such, you do not want to sit back and let the legal process unfold without a strong defense that could increase the odds of a favorable outcome.