Idaho Code
Idaho Code

Idaho Code § 18-204 (2026)

Principals defined. 

✓ current as of May 2026
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Principals defined. 

All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, whether it be felony or misdemeanor, and whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense or aid and abet in its commission, or, not being present, have advised and encouraged its commission, or who, by fraud, contrivance, or force, occasion the intoxication of another for the purpose of causing him to commit any crime, or who, by threats, menaces, command or coercion, compel another to commit any crime, are principals in any crime so committed.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 55 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1951–2023 · leading case: State v. Adamcik, 272 P.3d 417 (Idaho 2012).
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State v. Adamcik, 272 P.3d 417 (Idaho 2012). · cites it 12× “Idaho Code § 18-204 defines "principals" as: All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, whether it be felony or misdemeanor, and whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense or aid and abet in its commission, or, not being present, have advised and…”
State v. Thompson, 614 P.2d 970 (Idaho 1980). · cites it 8× “while armed" means that liability is personal and not vicarious, the terms only apply to the person who is armed; and (2) That the statutory basis for vicarious criminal liability refers only to situations where one can be guilty of a crime based on the conduct of another and…”
State v. Sanchez, 127 P.3d 212 (Idaho Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 8× “§§ 18-1701, 18-6501; robbery, I.C. §§ 18-204, 18-6501, 18-6502, 18-6503; conspiracy to commit first degree kidnapping, I.”
State v. Page, 16 P.3d 890 (Idaho 2000). · cites it 8× “§ 18-905(a) and/or (b), and I.C. § 18-204. He was found guilty of aggravated assault.”
State v. Butcher, 44 P.3d 1180 (Idaho Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 6× “Later, after a number of amended complaints were filed, and more defense motions seeking to prevent the state from charging Butcher in the alternative, the magistrate accepted the state’s argument that I.C. § 18-204 abolished any distinction between principals and aiders and…”
State v. Johnson, 188 P.3d 912 (Idaho 2008). · cites it 4× “A conclusion that the entire statute is substantive is further supported by I.C. § 18-204, which defines principals as: “[a]ll persons concerned in the commission of a crime .”
State v. Pierce, 685 P.2d 837 (Idaho Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 4× “Idaho Code § 18-204 defines the level of participation required to be a principal: All persons concerned in the commission of a crime .”
State v. Hauser, 150 P.3d 296 (Idaho Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “Hauser was eventually charged with both felony and misdemeanor counts of malicious injury to property, Idaho Code §§ 18-204 , -7001, for her alleged involvement in the shooting incident.”
State v. Gibson, 675 P.2d 33 (Idaho 1983). · cites it 4× “inding? It is readily apparent from the Findings that the district court believed there was no distinction whatever between finding a defendant guilty as an aider and abettor as against executing an aider and abettor: "The court has been provided with no authority which holds…”
State v. Randles, 787 P.2d 1152 (Idaho 1990). · cites it 4× “The reasoning is that even if one defendant did not actually help to cultivate the plants, he or she is equally guilty of the substantive *1155 offense as an accomplice for aiding and abetting in the cultivation.”
State v. Gonzalez, 12 P.3d 382 (Idaho Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 6× “Idaho Code § 18-204 defines the classes of persons liable for their acts prior to or during the commission of a crime: All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, whether it be felony or misdemeanor, and whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense or…”
Rome v. State, 431 P.3d 242 (Idaho 2018). · cites it 2× “I.C. § 18-204. The aiding and abetting statute therefore requires the actor to either: (1) directly commit the crime; (2) aid and abet in the crime's commission; or (3) if not present at the crime, advised or encouraged in its commission.”
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