It is common to find that in most robbery cases, it involves the role of an accomplice. This is especially noticeable when it comes to bank robberies and other major establishments compared to the petty 1:1 theft. So how far or how intense would be the involvement and punishment of the accomplice in robbery cases? You can get to know more about it with this case of Stanley Hedgeman which was handled by a competent lawyer.
According to credible source, the accomplice is defined as the one who usually drives the getaway car and is not present at the actual scene of the crime. Instead, he is situated from a short distance to give immediate assistance to the robber. He is defined as someone not actually present but is considered to be an aggravating force to the entire crime. What is being questioned in this case is whether the placement of Hedgeman’s car near the scene of the crime is just circumstantial or it proves that he is truly an accomplice of the actual robber. What makes the investigation a lot more solid is because of the bank teller who served as witness according to a policeman.
The bank teller testified that it was on July 13, 1981 at 1:30 in the afternoon that the actual robber came to her window at the Manufacturers Hanover Bank in Queens County. He gave her a note which stated all the special instructions that she needs to do in order to not be noticed by everyone else yet that a robbery is being held. But the teller was only able to give about $200 as that was the only amount she had in her drawer at that time.
In addition, a research done by a reporter said that after the robber left, the teller pressed a silent alarm and she was able to notice the direction where the robber was going from another window of the bank. She saw him ride a parked automobile situated about 15 feet from the bank and yes, there was someone seated on its driver’s seat. Another police officer also testified that during his interview with the alleged robber, he mentioned that he planned it well with his accomplice who served as the driver in the parked car.
The evidence of having someone to wait and watch is enough to prove that he is an accomplice. Becoming an accomplice is also punishable since you contribute to the harm of the crime in a significant way as it adds an element of danger and threat to its victims. To be an accessorial aid to the crime scene is considered serious to the court and can lead to becoming an aggravating factor to the overall situation. This is regardless of the fact whether the accomplice in this case, the driver, was armed or not but the fact that he present constructively at the immediate scene is enough proof.
You can truly learn so much from the cases of robbery handled by a reliable New York robbery lawyer. If you would start your search for a New York grand larceny lawyer in the office of Stephen Bilkis & Associates, then you would surely find someone who can help you win all your cases and be able to educate you more with all the needed elements of the legal proceedings. Just like what you have learned in this case about the involvement of accomplices and the punishments that come with it even if you were not the actual person who committed the crime.