{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-procedure-4-204","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 4–204","heading":"","body":"(a) In this section, the words “accessory before the fact” and “principal” have their judicially determined meanings.\n(b) Except for a sentencing proceeding under § 2–304 of the Criminal Law Article:\n(1) the distinction between an accessory before the fact and a principal is abrogated; and\n(2) an accessory before the fact may be charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced as a principal.\n(c) An accessory before the fact may be charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced for a crime regardless of whether a principal in the crime has been:\n(1) charged with the crime;\n(2) acquitted of the crime; or\n(3) convicted of a lesser or different crime.\n(d) If a crime is committed in the State, an accessory before the fact may be charged, tried and convicted, and sentenced in a county where:\n(1) an act of accessoryship was committed; or\n(2) a principal in the crime may be charged, tried and convicted, and sentenced.","path":["Article - Criminal Procedure"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcp\u0026section=4-204","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:17Z","sha256":"2bf251d543f483acbebcc0ed40222dd6da52a08b0f83cea909597bda04323b1a","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-procedure-4-203","next":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-procedure-4-205"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}