Rapper Vanilla Ice (real name Rob Van Winkle) is out on a $6,000 bond after being arrested for playing a role in a Burglary and Theft. The rapper claims it is all a misunderstanding and that the situation is being blown out of proportion. The police reports claim that Van Winkle was working next door to a million dollar house, which was in foreclosure. Sometime between December and February, items were stolen from the house. Through the investigation, it was discovered Van Winkle played a part in the Burglary and Theft. Some of the stolen items were recovered in one of his residences. The items have been returned to the owners.
What Does it Mean to ‘Play a Role’ in Larimer County?
In Larimer, Boulder and Grand County, you don’t actually have to commit a crime, to face criminal charges. There are four different Colorado law statutes, which cover the type and degree a person can participate in a crime, without actually committing it: Attempt to Commit a Crime, Accessory to Crime, Complicity, and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime.
Criminal Attempt – C.R.S. 18-2-101 – is defined as:
All a person has to do is take steps toward committing a crime. For the case above, if Van Winkle broke into the location with others, but changed his mind and didn’t actually commit any other crime (like the Theft), he could still be charged with Attempted Burglary or Attempted Theft if the district attorney felt he took a “substantial step” toward committing those underlying crimes.
Accessory to Crime – C.R.S. 18-8-105 – is defined as:
Colorado law states that if you conceal any evidence relevant to a case, you are rendering assistance and therefore an Accessory to Crime. If in the above situation, Van Winkle allowed the stolen items to be stored at his house, but played no part in planning or taking the items, he would be charged with Accessory to Burglary or Accessory to Theft.
Complicity – C.R.S. 18-1-603 – is defined as:
This crime is charged when a person offers any assistance prior to the crime being committed. In the Van Winkle case, if he drove his friend to the house, knowing his friend was going to commit the Burglary, he would be considered Complicit in the eyes of the law. With this charge, the punishment is the same as if he actually committed the Burglary or Theft.
Conspiracy to Commit a Crime – C.R.S. 18-2-201 – is defined as:
For this case, if Vanilla Ice helped plan the Burglary or even mentioned to his friend about how the house was full of items and what time people were gone everyday, he would be considered a Conspirator.
‘Playing a role’ in a crime is significant in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park. Many times, people are punished just as harshly for helping or playing a role in the commission of a crime than if they actually committed the crime themselves.