Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 502
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020 (2026)

Liability for conduct of another -- Complicity

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person is guilty of an offense committed by another person when, with the intention of promoting or facilitating the commission of the offense, he: (a) Solicits, commands, or engages in a conspiracy with such other person to commit the offense; or (b) Aids, counsels, or attempts to aid such person in planning or committing the offense; or (c) Having a legal duty to prevent the commission of the offense, fails to make a proper effort to do so. (2) When causing a particular result is an element of an offense, a person who acts with the kind of culpability with respect to the result that is sufficient for the commission of the offense is guilty of that offense when he: (a) Solicits or engages in a conspiracy with another person to engage in the conduct causing such result; or (b) Aids, counsels, or attempts to aid another person in planning, or engaging in the conduct causing such result; or (c) Having a legal duty to prevent the conduct causing the result, fails to make a proper effort to do so. Effective: January 1, 1975 History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 21, effective January 1, 1975.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 146 cases (36 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: Tharp v. Commonwealth, 40 S.W.3d 356 (Ky. 2000).
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Tharp v. Commonwealth, 40 S.W.3d 356 (Ky. 2000). · cites it 114× “KRS 502.020 describes two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity, i.”
Harper v. Commonwealth, 43 S.W.3d 261 (Ky. 2001). · cites it 38× “During these discussions, both the trial court and the prosecutor emphasized that the theory of complicity liability at issue in the instructions was premised on subsection (1) of KRS 502.020, which provides in pertinent part: A person is guilty of an offense committed by…”
Beaumont v. Commonwealth, 295 S.W.3d 60 (Ky. 2009). · cites it 28× “Turning to Appellant’s case, the record demonstrates that the jury was instructed on both theories of complicity in KRS 502.020 in finding Appellant guilty of the murder of Shirley Thomas under KRS 507.”
Young v. Commonwealth, 426 S.W.3d 577 (Ky. 2014). · cites it 22× “Appellant was convicted of murder by complicity under KRS 502.020, which has been recognized as containing “two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity.”
Rogers v. Commonwealth, 315 S.W.3d 303 (Ky. 2010). · cites it 14× “To properly assess his claim, we must consider both the meaning of complicity, KRS 502.020, and the meaning of criminal attempt, KRS 506.”
Young v. Commonwealth, 50 S.W.3d 148 (Ky. 2001). · cites it 6× “Young asserts the jury was improperly instructed that it could find him guilty if he acted in complicity with "a person" who intentionally killed Shalash instead of requiring the jury to find that he acted in complicity specifically with Thomas. Although Girard testified that…”
Smith v. Commonwealth, 370 S.W.3d 871 (Ky. 2012). · cites it 15× “Appellant was indicted and charged as an accomplice (KRS 502.020) to first-degree burglary (KRS 511.”
Parks v. Commonwealth, 192 S.W.3d 318 (Ky. 2006). · cites it 8× “) The Commonwealth posits in its brief that "this case is a complicity liability case, which, by definition, does not require the proof of each element of the underlying offense.”
Peacher v. Commonwealth, 391 S.W.3d 821 (Ky. 2013). · cites it 6× “KRS 502.020, “Liability for conduct of another — complicity,” provides in pertinent part that When causing a particular result is an element of an offense, a person who acts with the kind of culpability with respect to the result that is sufficient for the commission of the…”
Meredith v. Commonwealth, 164 S.W.3d 500 (Ky. 2005). · cites it 16× “KRS 502.020 provides: (1) A person is guilty of an offense committed by another person when, with the intention of promoting or facilitating the commission of the offense, he: (a) Solicits, commands, or engages in a conspiracy with such other person to commit the offense; or (b)…”
Commonwealth v. Suttles, 80 S.W.3d 424 (Ky. 2002). · cites it 8× “KRS 502.020 provides two separate and distinct theories of complicity: "complicity to the act" under subsection (1), and "complicity to the result" under subsection (2).”
Futrell v. Commonwealth, 471 S.W.3d 258 (Ky. 2015). · cites it 7× “2012) (“KRS 502.020 does not create a new offense, known as complicity_ Rather than being a separate 'crime, complicity is simply the means of committing another crime.”
Show all 146 citing cases →
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(1) — 54 cases
Tharp v. Commonwealth, 40 S.W.3d 356 (Ky. 2000). “KRS 502.020 describes two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity, i.”
Harper v. Commonwealth, 43 S.W.3d 261 (Ky. 2001). “During these discussions, both the trial court and the prosecutor emphasized that the theory of complicity liability at issue in the instructions was premised on subsection (1) of KRS 502.020, which provides in pertinent part: A person is guilty of an offense committed by…”
Young v. Commonwealth, 426 S.W.3d 577 (Ky. 2014). “Appellant was convicted of murder by complicity under KRS 502.020, which has been recognized as containing “two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity.”
Beaumont v. Commonwealth, 295 S.W.3d 60 (Ky. 2009). “Turning to Appellant’s case, the record demonstrates that the jury was instructed on both theories of complicity in KRS 502.020 in finding Appellant guilty of the murder of Shirley Thomas under KRS 507.”
Young v. Commonwealth, 50 S.W.3d 148 (Ky. 2001). “Young asserts the jury was improperly instructed that it could find him guilty if he acted in complicity with "a person" who intentionally killed Shalash instead of requiring the jury to find that he acted in complicity specifically with Thomas. Although Girard testified that…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(1)(a) — 7 cases
Crawley v. Commonwealth, 107 S.W.3d 197 (Ky. 2003).
Commonwealth v. Wolford, 4 S.W.3d 534 (Ky. 1999).
Bratcher v. Commonwealth, 406 S.W.3d 865 (Ky. Ct. App. 2012).
Tony Lear v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2024).
Martin Andrew Stieritz v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2023).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(1)(b) — 6 cases
Skinner v. Commonwealth, 864 S.W.2d 290 (Ky. 1993).
Roy Edward Tucker v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2017).
Lonnie Conyers v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2017).
Joseph Hardy v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2017).
Bobby L. Hammonds v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2021).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(1)(c) — 6 cases
Tharp v. Commonwealth, 40 S.W.3d 356 (Ky. 2000). “KRS 502.020 describes two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity, i.”
Biederman v. Commonwealth, 434 S.W.3d 40 (Ky. 2014).
Dowdle v. Commonwealth, 554 S.W.2d 92 (Ky. Ct. App. 1977).
Knox v. Commonwealth, 735 S.W.2d 711 (Ky. 1987).
Katherine Barrett v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2023).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(2) — 25 cases
Tharp v. Commonwealth, 40 S.W.3d 356 (Ky. 2000). “KRS 502.020 describes two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity, i.”
Harper v. Commonwealth, 43 S.W.3d 261 (Ky. 2001). “During these discussions, both the trial court and the prosecutor emphasized that the theory of complicity liability at issue in the instructions was premised on subsection (1) of KRS 502.020, which provides in pertinent part: A person is guilty of an offense committed by…”
Young v. Commonwealth, 426 S.W.3d 577 (Ky. 2014). “Appellant was convicted of murder by complicity under KRS 502.020, which has been recognized as containing “two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity.”
Beaumont v. Commonwealth, 295 S.W.3d 60 (Ky. 2009). “Turning to Appellant’s case, the record demonstrates that the jury was instructed on both theories of complicity in KRS 502.020 in finding Appellant guilty of the murder of Shirley Thomas under KRS 507.”
Mills v. Commonwealth, 44 S.W.3d 366 (Ky. 2001).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(2)(a) — 2 cases
Peacher v. Commonwealth, 391 S.W.3d 821 (Ky. 2013). “KRS 502.020, “Liability for conduct of another — complicity,” provides in pertinent part that When causing a particular result is an element of an offense, a person who acts with the kind of culpability with respect to the result that is sufficient for the commission of the…”
Fess Polly v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2024).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(2)(a)(b) — 1 case
Tharp v. Commonwealth, 40 S.W.3d 356 (Ky. 2000). “KRS 502.020 describes two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity, i.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(2)(b) — 3 cases
Futrell v. Commonwealth, 471 S.W.3d 258 (Ky. 2015). “2012) (“KRS 502.020 does not create a new offense, known as complicity_ Rather than being a separate 'crime, complicity is simply the means of committing another crime.”
Smith v. Commonwealth, 370 S.W.3d 871 (Ky. 2012). “Appellant was indicted and charged as an accomplice (KRS 502.020) to first-degree burglary (KRS 511.”
Dale Brucker v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2020).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(2)(c) — 5 cases
Tharp v. Commonwealth, 40 S.W.3d 356 (Ky. 2000). “KRS 502.020 describes two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity, i.”
Staples v. Commonwealth, 454 S.W.3d 803 (Ky. 2014).
Futrell v. Commonwealth, 471 S.W.3d 258 (Ky. 2015). “2012) (“KRS 502.020 does not create a new offense, known as complicity_ Rather than being a separate 'crime, complicity is simply the means of committing another crime.”
State v. Jackson, 944 P.2d 403 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997).
Lane v. Commonwealth, 956 S.W.2d 874 (Ky. 1997).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(b) — 2 cases
Shouse v. Commonwealth, 481 S.W.3d 480 (Ky. 2015).
Linder v. Commonwealth, 714 S.W.2d 154 (Ky. 1986).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(l)(a) — 6 cases
Crawley v. Commonwealth, 107 S.W.3d 197 (Ky. 2003).
Mishler v. Commonwealth, 556 S.W.2d 676 (Ky. 1977).
Beaumont v. Commonwealth, 295 S.W.3d 60 (Ky. 2009). “Turning to Appellant’s case, the record demonstrates that the jury was instructed on both theories of complicity in KRS 502.020 in finding Appellant guilty of the murder of Shirley Thomas under KRS 507.”
Commonwealth v. Wolford, 4 S.W.3d 534 (Ky. 1999).
Tribbett v. Commonwealth, 561 S.W.2d 662 (Ky. 1978).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(l)(b) — 5 cases
Dixon v. Commonwealth, 263 S.W.3d 583 (Ky. 2008).
Beaumont v. Commonwealth, 295 S.W.3d 60 (Ky. 2009). “Turning to Appellant’s case, the record demonstrates that the jury was instructed on both theories of complicity in KRS 502.020 in finding Appellant guilty of the murder of Shirley Thomas under KRS 507.”
Biederman v. Commonwealth, 434 S.W.3d 40 (Ky. 2014).
Lonnie Conyers v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2017).
Joseph Hardy v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2017).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(l)(c) — 4 cases
Biederman v. Commonwealth, 434 S.W.3d 40 (Ky. 2014).
Tharp v. Commonwealth, 40 S.W.3d 356 (Ky. 2000). “KRS 502.020 describes two separate and distinct theories under which a person can be found guilty by complicity, i.”
Lane v. Commonwealth, 956 S.W.2d 874 (Ky. 1997).
Knox v. Commonwealth, 735 S.W.2d 711 (Ky. 1987).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 502.020(l)(e) — 2 cases
Lane v. Commonwealth, 956 S.W.2d 874 (Ky. 1997).
Knox v. Commonwealth, 735 S.W.2d 711 (Ky. 1987).
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