It goes without saying that receiving a criminal charge of any severity has the potential to affect the rest of your life. If law enforcement has reason to believe that you are guilty of conspiring with others to commit theft, drug crimes or any other illegal act, then the consequences before you may be especially harsh.
If you stand accused of criminal conspiracy, you have options for defending your rights and freedoms in court. You can build the best defense possible by understanding how the law views conspiracy and what your options are for clearing the accusations against you.
How does Illinois law define criminal conspiracy?
Illinois legal statutes define a conspiracy as an intent to commit an illegal act in agreement with one or more other individuals. Penalties for conspiring to commit a felony offense typically exceed that of the felony itself. Conviction of conspiracy requires the prosecution to prove that you are in agreement to commit a crime, have the intent to do so and are guilty of acting to carry out the agreed-upon crime.
How can you defend yourself against a conspiracy accusation?
Illinois law states that there can be no conviction of conspiracy if the accused is not proven guilty of acting with the intention to commit the conspired crime. You can defend yourself by working with your legal team to prove that you are not a party to any criminal agreement and have no intention to commit an illegal act.
Conspiracy is a particularly severe offense, but you can take steps toward securing your acquittal by preparing the appropriate defense.
