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§ 7.30 1. Accessory After the Fact

 
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Accessory after the fact prohibits a person who knows that a federal crime has been committed from comforting or assisting the principal offender in order to “hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment.”[271]  There is an excellent argument that this non-substantive offense is not listed in the aggravated felony definition, but the BIA has held it falls within the obstruction of justice category.  See § § 7.8, supra, 7.89, infra. 


[271] 18 U.S.C. § 3.  United States v. Taylor, 322 F.3d 1209 (9th Cir. March 20, 2003) (trial court erred in refusing to dismiss accessory after the fact charge that was predicated on same facts that supported defendant’s conviction for aiding and abetting, because the government’s theory that the defendant was an accessory after the fact because he did not turn himself and the principal in to the authorities after the crime was committed would mean every principal is also an accessory in his own crime when he does not turn himself in, which would be an “absurd” result).

 

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