Final answer:
An accessory after the fact is a person who assists the offender in evading arrest, trial, or punishment after a felony has been committed. They are not present during the crime but provide help afterwards. In the given scenario, if the suspects blame each other, they can both be convicted as accessories to armed robbery and face a five-year sentence. However, if one of them informs on their accomplice, they can be considered a cooperating accessory after the fact, leading to the dropping of the weapons charge against them.
Step-by-step explanation:
In criminal law, an accessory after the fact refers to a person who, after a felony has been committed, helps the offender in evading arrest, trial, or punishment. This person is not present during the commission of the crime but assists the offender afterwards. As per the scenario provided, if the suspects blame each other and refuse to cooperate, they both can be convicted as accessories to armed robbery and face a sentence of five years.
However, if one of the suspects chooses to inform on their accomplice, they can be considered a cooperating accessory after the fact. In this case, the weapons charge against them will be dropped, and they'll be released, while their guilty accomplice will serve an eight-year sentence. It's important to note that being an accessory after the fact is a criminal offense that varies in severity depending on local laws. In some jurisdictions, it may also be possible for both suspects to be charged with being accessories after the fact, even if only one person directly aided the offender.