Could I be Considered an Accessory?

[Spartan094]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Minnesota.

Hello all, I know it's pretty frowned upon to post a question as your first post to a forum, but I'm in quite the hurry.

Here's my story,

About a month ago I was at a friends house watching a football game. The entire game we were all joking (at least I was) about throwing a brick through my principals window. After much discussion one of my friends, we'll call him Brick, actually went and got a brick from outside and started sizing it up. After telling him I was joking, a couple of my friends agree but most of them were all for it.

Anyways, we end up going outside, where everybody starts getting into cars, I figure that they'll just end up ringing his doorbell like we always have in the past so I jumped in another friends car. (Not Brick's). And we went across town.

Once we got there I told him it was a bad idea, and at one point even grabbed his arm, made him look me in the eyes and told him not to do it. He said something like, "I have to do this". Then I stayed acrossed the street, in the backyard neighbor's house back yard. Roughly 50 yards. I couldn't leave, considering my house was well over 2 miles away, and they were my only ride.

Yesterday, my friend turned himself in, and they told him that if he didn't tell them who else was there he would get expelled, so my name came up. I haven't got called to the office yet, but everybody is getting suspended like crazy, but seeing as I was one of the only one who was against it at the time, I shouldn't get in trouble.

Basically, I can't be considered to be an accessory because I did every reasonable thing to stop him, he is stronger than me and had a brick, and he wouldn't have stopped anyways. In my mind, I'm a witness, not an accomplice. In addition, I was never questioned whether or not I knew who did it, so I didn't lie or get in the way of the cops.

Am I an Accessory?

tl;dr: Friend threw a brick through a window after I told him not to, although I was there to witness it.

Thanks, any advice would be great, I got about an hour and 1/2 until I go back.

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Minnesota.

Hello all, I know it's pretty frowned upon to post a question as your first post to a forum, but I'm in quite the hurry.

Here's my story,

About a month ago I was at a friends house watching a football game. The entire game we were all joking (at least I was) about throwing a brick through my principals window. After much discussion one of my friends, we'll call him Brick, actually went and got a brick from outside and started sizing it up. After telling him I was joking, a couple of my friends agree but most of them were all for it.

Anyways, we end up going outside, where everybody starts getting into cars, I figure that they'll just end up ringing his doorbell like we always have in the past so I jumped in another friends car. (Not Brick's). And we went across town.

Once we got there I told him it was a bad idea, and at one point even grabbed his arm, made him look me in the eyes and told him not to do it. He said something like, "I have to do this". Then I stayed acrossed the street, in the backyard neighbor's house back yard. Roughly 50 yards. I couldn't leave, considering my house was well over 2 miles away, and they were my only ride.

Yesterday, my friend turned himself in, and they told him that if he didn't tell them who else was there he would get expelled, so my name came up. I haven't got called to the office yet, but everybody is getting suspended like crazy, but seeing as I was one of the only one who was against it at the time, I shouldn't get in trouble.

Basically, I can't be considered to be an accessory because I did every reasonable thing to stop him, he is stronger than me and had a brick, and he wouldn't have stopped anyways. In my mind, I'm a witness, not an accomplice. In addition, I was never questioned whether or not I knew who did it, so I didn't lie or get in the way of the cops.

Am I an Accessory?

tl;dr: Friend threw a brick through a window after I told him not to, although I was there to witness it.

Thanks, any advice would be great, I got about an hour and 1/2 until I go back.

You went along for the ride, didn't you? I'd say you are pretty culpable.

 

[Spartan094]

Considering that wasn't aiding and abetting, I would think they would have nothing. I didn't will it to happen, which I think is most important. That car ride could have gone anywhere, it doesn't matter that I took a ride.

 

[Antigone*]

Considering that wasn't aiding and abetting, I would think they would have nothing. I didn't will it to happen, which I think is most important. That car ride could have gone anywhere, it doesn't matter that I took a ride.

Ok, you win. Off you go.

 

[Spartan094]

Haha, good enough. Thanks!

 

[KakitaOCU]

You do realize they're patronizing you, right?

You could have not gotten in the car to begin with, you could have called the police or threatened to, you could have immediately gone back and or gone to said principle at school and explained everything. Heck you could have done that last bit anytime during the last MONTH that went between the actual act and the brick thrower turning themselves in.

Were you directly involved? Not really. Did you have responsibility for the situation being as you allowed it to happen and then kept quiet? Yeah, kinda. You knew what had happened and chose to stay quiet about it.

 

[stealth2]

You sure can be held culpable. You were involved in the "planning", you were at the scene, you chose not to leave (and really - you couldn't call Mommy? Or walk that horribly long distance of two miles? ), you chose not to call the cops on your s-called friends.

You pretty much hold as much responsibility as the rest of them.

 

[NellieBly]

Hopefully you learned something from this.

 

[Hot Topic]

I doubt he has learned anything since he still feels he didn't do anything wrong. I can hear a chorus now of voices saying, "But Buster suggested it! Honest. I wouldn't have done anything until Buster brought up throwing the brick."

 

[NellieBly]

I doubt he has learned anything since he still feels he didn't do anything wrong. I can hear a chorus now of voices saying, "But Buster suggested it! Honest. I wouldn't have done anything until Buster brought up throwing the brick."

I was thinking more along the lines of staying away from those who would toss "Irish confetti."

 

[DUIAttyPCho]

You can be considered an accessory, although you do have a good argument for mitigation. Too bad you didn't call the cops and turn everyone in. Then you would have a complete defense to being an accessory. In criminal law (and juvenile law also) a partial defense is no defense, so you will get some sort of punishment as a result. Lets hope they keep it "in house," and not take it to juvenile hall, as it will get more complicating if it does.