Section 4-204 - Accessory before the fact. - Maryland Statutes

§ 4-204. Accessory before the fact.
 

(a)  "Accessory before the fact" and "principal" defined.- In this section, the words "accessory before the fact" and "principal" have their judicially determined meanings. 

(b)  Accessory before the fact and principal - Compared.- Except for a sentencing proceeding under § 2-303 or § 2-304 of the Criminal Law Article: 

(1) the distinction between an accessory before the fact and a principal is abrogated; and 

(2) an accessory before the fact may be charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced as a principal. 

(c)  Accessory liability not linked to principal.- An accessory before the fact may be charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced for a crime regardless of whether a principal in the crime has been: 

(1) charged with the crime; 

(2) acquitted of the crime; or 

(3) convicted of a lesser or different crime. 

(d)  Venue.- If a crime is committed in the State, an accessory before the fact may be charged, tried and convicted, and sentenced in a county where: 

(1) an act of accessoryship was committed; or 

(2) a principal in the crime may be charged, tried and convicted, and sentenced. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 592A; 2001, ch. 10, § 2; ch. 35; 2002, ch. 26, § 12; ch. 213, § 6.]