— Also termed aid or abet; counsel and procure. [Cases: Criminal Law 59. C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 127, 998.] — aider and abettor, n.
“The phrase ‘aid and abet’ and ‘aider and abettor’ seem unnecessarily verbose…. [A]ny aid given with mens rea is abetment; hence to add the word ‘aid’ to the word ‘abet’ is not necessary and is sometimes misleading.” Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal Law 724–25 (3d ed. 1982).
“In connection with the principal in the second degree or accessory before the fact, the terms ‘aid’ and ‘abet’ are frequently used interchangeably, although they are not synonymous. To ‘aid’ is to assist or help another. To ‘abet’ means, literally, to bait or excite, as in the case of an animal. In its legal sense, it means to encourage, advise, or instigate the commission of a crime.” 1 Charles E. Torcia, Wharton’s Criminal Law § 29, at 181 (15th ed. 1993).
