Accessories after the fact may face no more than half the minimum sentence that the principal of the crime is punished to. In the event the principal is sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty, the maximum sentence for an accessory after the fact is 15 years.

The penalties for a misdemeanor accessory after the fact can include a fine, probation, or jail time, typically less than one year. For instance, in a hypothetical case where a person helped a friend evade police after a shoplifting incident, the accessory might be sentenced to probation and a fine if convicted.

Except as otherwise expressly provided by any Act of Congress, an accessory after the fact shall be imprisoned not more than one-half the maximum term of imprisonment or (notwithstanding section 3571) fined not more than one-half the maximum fine prescribed for the punishment of the principal, or both; or if the principal is punishable by life imprisonment or death, the accessory shall be imprisoned not more than 15 years.

According to federal law, an accessory to a felony crime’s punishment cannot be more than half of the principal’s highest prison sentence or fines. If the principal is sentenced to death, the accessory might face a maximum term of fifteen years in prison. States may enact their own rules regulating criminal accessories.

The crime of Accessory to a Felony is a “wobbler.” This means it can be punished as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Accessories are punished by a fine not exceeding $5,000, incarceration in the county jail for up to one year (misdemeanor), or local prison for up to three years (felony). 10