An accessory to a crime is one who aids in the commission of a crime without being a present when the crime is being committed. In other words, a partner in crime. An accessory before the fact is someone who counsels or leads someone else to commit a crime. They are the instigators is some cases. In other cases, they are a big part of the operation, but are not at the scene of the crime when it occurs.
In some states the before the fact accessory has been abolished and the person who is the accessory in the crime will be punished as the principal, or the one who is present at and participates in the crime charged or who procures an innocent agent to commit the crime. These type of acts are not taken lightly. If you are part of a crime, it does not matter if you are present at the time the crime is committed, or in Hawaii sipping pina coladas sending someone information through a computer. If you are involved in the crime, you will receive the same sentence.
In my mind, it really doesn’t matter where you are when the crime occurs, if you are part of it you should receive the same punishment as the person who was at the scene of the crime. No leeway should be given in those situations. If you have the guts to commit a crime, then face the consequences.
People actually try to beat to the cases and say they should get less of a sentence. Yet the courts do not see past that. They give the rightful punishments and make sure the criminals know that whether you are there or not, you will be prosecuted for the crime committed. And that applies to everyone who is has the guts to break the law.