If a codefendant accepts a plea deal, pleads guilty, and implicates you, you might understandably be worried about what that means for your case and defense, which our lawyers can explain.
If your codefendant accepts a plea deal in this case, they are removed from the case. The prosecution will most likely continue pursuing charges against you, but might update them based on information provided by your codefendant. A codefendant accepting a plea deal doesn’t mean you have to do the same or that you will automatically be found guilty, even if they testify against you. Our lawyers will have the chance to cross-examine them and question their credibility on the stand in front of the jury.
Get a free case assessment from our New Jersey criminal defense lawyers by calling the Law Offices of John J. Zarych at (609) 616-4956.
What Happens to Your Charges if Your Codefendant Accepts a Plea Deal?
If you are facing charges alongside a codefendant who accepts a plea deal before or during your trial, you need to know how their decision might affect your case and defense.
If a codefendant accepts a plea deal, nothing automatically happens to the charges filed against you. The prosecution might update them depending on new information, but will not drop the charges unless your codefendant’s confession exonerates you.
What Happens to the Prosecution’s Strategy if Your Codefendant Accepts a Plea Deal?
When a codefendant accepts a plea deal from the prosecution, they typically agree to provide incriminating evidence about the other codefendant, which might impact the prosecution’s strategy and approach when trying the case.
If a codefendant accepts a plea deal, the prosecution only has to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt for one person: the remaining codefendant, now the sole defendant.
Because of this, they might update witness lists, prioritize certain evidence, and even present a vastly different case to the jury than they would if both codefendants remained in the case the entire time.
Will You Be Found Guilty if Your Codefendant Accepts a Plea Deal?
While learning that a codefendant has accepted a plea deal can be extremely discouraging and anxiety-inducing, it doesn’t have to negatively affect your case or lead to your conviction.
The fact that a codefendant admitted to a crime or even implicated you in an offense is not sufficient evidence to prove that you committed a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
The codefendant’s guilty plea and admission of guilt are their own and do not guarantee a conviction. However, it could significantly strengthen the prosecution’s case against you, depending on the information they provide as part of the deal.
Will Your Codefendant Testify Against You if They Accept a Plea Deal?
While your codefendant accepting a plea deal does not guarantee you will be found guilty or that you need to change your plea, it does likely mean your codefendant will give the prosecution evidence against you and has already agreed to testify.
Testifying against a codefendant is a common stipulation of plea deals offered by prosecutors. The prosecution may put your previous codefendant on the stand to describe what happened during the offense and testify against you. Depending on their credibility as a witness, a codefendant’s testimony could be very compelling for a jury.
What Happens if a Codefendant Testifies Against You as Part of Their Plea Deal?
While it can be daunting to know that a codefendant who has accepted a plea deal from the prosecution will testify against you in your criminal trial, it doesn’t guarantee a negative outcome for your case.
If a codefendant testifies against you as part of their plea deal, our lawyers will have an opportunity to question them during cross-examination. We can ask direct questions about the plea deal they accepted. We can show the jury that they have reason to lie because they are being given something for their testimony against you.
How Will You Know if Your Codefendant Accepts a Plea Deal?
You should learn whether your codefendant has accepted a plea deal as soon as possible so you can start preparing for how that decision might affect your case and how the prosecution tries it.
Our criminal defense lawyers can monitor court docket entries and updates and alert you if a codefendant exits the trial by accepting a plea deal and updating their plea to guilty. Without our lawyers to monitor changes that might affect your case, it might take you far too long to learn about a codefendant’s plea deal.
What Should You Do if Your Codefendant Accepts a Plea Deal?
Your response to a codefendant accepting a plea deal can make all the difference in its impact on your case. Most importantly, don’t panic, and regroup with our lawyers to determine your next steps.
If your codefendant accepts a plea deal, you should not panic or react impulsively and change your plea, confess, or accept a plea deal. While accepting a plea deal yourself might be on the table if your codefendant does, this is not something you should rush into by any means, and always something you should discuss with your lawyer.
What Happens if You Accept a Plea Deal as a Codefendant?
If you are a codefendant in a criminal case and are considering accepting a plea deal for lesser charges, you need an experienced lawyer in your corner who can make sure that the deal legitimately benefits you.
Prosecutors almost always want something in return when they offer a codefendant a plea deal, so it is important that the defendant who accepts the plea also gets something that benefits them, such as reduced charges and less serious consequences.
Contact Our Lawyers for Help with Your Criminal Case
Call the Wildwood, NJ criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of John J. Zarych at (609) 616-4956 for your free case analysis.
