A criminal charge of aiding and abetting is known as an accomplice crime, and may be brought against anyone who helps with the commission of a crime. Aiding and abetting charges vary from state to state (and under federal law), but generally require that the defendant knowingly and intentionally aided and abetted the principal(s) in each essential element of the underlying crime. A person charged with aiding and abetting is often not present when the underlying crime is committed, but has knowledge of the crime before the crime is committed, and assists with the commission of the crime by providing information, action, or financial support. If the person aiding and abetting has a sufficient degree of involvement in the crime, the participation may rise to the level of being a conspiracy to commit the underlying crime.

In Missouri, aiding and abetting is addressed under the state's criminal statutes concerning 'accomplice liability.' Under Missouri law, a person can be charged with a crime if they aid, abet, assist, or encourage the commission of an offense knowingly and with the intent to promote or further the commission of that offense. This means that an individual does not need to be physically present during the commission of the crime to be held liable. The level of involvement required for aiding and abetting charges can vary, but generally, the individual must have taken some action or provided some form of support that contributed to the crime. If the person's involvement is significant enough, they may also face charges of conspiracy in addition to aiding and abetting. It's important to note that the penalties for aiding and abetting can be as severe as those for the principal offender, depending on the circumstances of the case.