ACCESSORY

(A) Criminal Law: Refers to a person who intentionally helps another person commit a felony crime by either helping plan the crime, concealing evidence of the crime or concealing the identity of the person who committed the crime. In most circumstances, the accessory is not physically present during the commission of a crime. By way of example, helping a thief get away from a police chase would make a person an accessory after the fact. See also accomplice for comparison. (B) property. Everything which is joined to another thing, as an ornament, or to render it more perfect, is an accessory, and belongs to the principal thing. For example, the halter of a horse, the frame of a picture, the keys of a house, and the like; but a bequest of a house would not carry the furniture in it, as accessory to it. Vide Accession; Adjunction; Appendant; Appurtenances; Appurtenant; Incident.