Aid and abet

Aid and Abet means to assist someone in committing or to encourage someone to commit a crime.  Generally, an aider and abettor is criminally liable to the same extent as the person committing the crime.

This case from California, explains that “a person ‘aids and abets’ the commission of a crime when he or she, acting with  knowledge of the unlawful purpose of the perpetrator; and the intent or purpose of committing, encouraging, or facilitating the commission of the offense,  by act or advice aids, promotes, encourages or instigates the commission of the crime.”