Potential Charges after Robbery

[Big Phil]

Recently, a kid I know's how was robbed by 3 people I know. I was personally not involved in what happened although I was aware it was going to happen. I didn't like the kid anyway so I didn't say anything, and he wanted me to pick up his new car that day a few hours away. I of course told everyone what I was doing that day, so they took advantage of the window to rob him. Of course he thinks I took him for that reason and not to get the car.

Anyway, the kid made a private deal with the 3 people and they returned his stuff because they were identified at the scene and they figured it would just be better on them. They didn't have room in the car so I helped return the stuff to him, otherwise I never touched the stuff. I don't believe he even filed charges and he called off the investigation unit that was coming in.

Now, about 2 weeks or so after all this happened we don't talk to him anymore and he's pissed off because he considers himself our "friend" even though we don't like him, he's bi-polar and has been put in mental hospitals 3 or more times. He's also very controlling and always has to have his way, he has harrassed me and threatened me and my friends and I have emails to prove that. He used to be cool and spent a lot of money on us but after a while he started to feel we "owed" him for what he was giving us and became a complete asshole. He is pretty much a freakin' looney out of touch with people and reality, but he's pretty smart and has family who practice law.

Not only all that the whole town pretty much knows he's a whacko and have seen how crazy he acts, screaming in public and whatnot. He's threatened to harm me and others and to kill his own mother.

After he came to my house the other night we called the cops because he was outside screaming in the middle of the night with an asp (spelling? anyway a long metal weapon). The cops were called but never came because they called back and he had left. He now wants to do another private deal with us this thursday for $400, and for us to return a $1500 dollar ring he gave to me as a gift, a digital camera given to me, and various things he's given to my friends as well.

Basically what I need to know is can I get in any trouble for this? Are my friends who committed the crime still at risk, after the time he hasn't filed and private deal he made, etc. He threatens me with charges that I'm an accomplice and that I knew, and one of the kids told him I helped them by telling them he wouldn't be there that day and what he owns.

Here's a direct quote from him on aol instant messenger that he sent me. Just so you can see what I'm dealing with here.

"jsyk,it would be very unwise for you to try anythig at this point.Ive called in some favors from some freinds of mine from the insitution.It wouldent be wise,Im hoping eric gave you the details and said waht i did."

btw I"ve also never been in trouble with the law and I'm 17. The ages of the 3 others are 15, 20, and 14.

[aaron]

To put it mildly, you did not act wisely. You are protected in part by this person's delay in seeking any criminal charge in relation to the robbery, and also by this person's erratic behavior. Frankly, some people might find convincing the argument that you set him up for the robbery - and the fact that you knew the robbery was going to happen, didn't tell your friend about the plan, and took him to the place of the robbery? That makes you, at a minimum, an accessory to that crime.

You are now confronted with a situation where you and your friends, all involved in a robbery of this person, are claiming that several thousand dollars worth of items you obtained from this person were "gifts" and not the fruit of the robbery (or items loaned after the friendship ended). In the event that the police become involved, if this person insists that the items were not gifts, your past conduct will cast a shadow on your credibility.

[Big Phil]

Well I can understand everything else. The gifts however were given to us many months ago while we were still friends and way before the robbery, so I really don't think he can argue that we stole those. As far as his conduct we have a whole facility full of people who could testify for us as far as his "crazy" conduct goes, and many people who know we've had these items for quite a while. There are records I'm sure from the jewerly store about when the ring was purchased. Which is the main item I'm worried about given it's value, there should be records of the dates I took it in to have it resized and get a warranty for it as well, so I'm not too worried about that.

A friends relative whos a lawyer advised us that he could do nothing about the situation because he made a private deal saying that if the items were returned no charges would be pressed.

As for myself I can definately understand how it looks, but it was his request that I come take him that day for his car. The police have no confirmation I had anything to do with it, except from his mouth.

What type of punishment should I look to recieve if I am found as an accessory to this? And also would it be wise to meet his demands this thursday and return these items (which as far as I'm concerned we now own them as they were given to us), and to give him the money he wants? If we do not he will definately press charges that day, but then again he could just turn right around and demand more or press charges anyway.

[aaron]

The penalties you might face vary depending upon the jurisdiction. As does the enforceability of the alleged "private agreement" - in some jurisdictions such an agreement would be void as against public policy.

[Big Phil]

Well, it would be within PA jurisdiction.

If I remember correctly, he filed a report with the police then told them he did not want to press charges if that makes any difference in whether he can bring them back or not.

[Mujiebur]

It appears that all of the people involved, the guy who was robbed included are involved in things way beyond this robbery. My advise to you is to make sure that you keep those IM's he send you and if nothing else try and get him to say something implicating himself in other wrong doings if you possibly can. If he gave you things, unless he can prove he purchased them himself and were not taken by him from someone else, you should be fine, however, if he did give them as a gift I would write him an IM and remind him that you were friends and name each item that he gave you as a gift so that he can reply to it to clear you. As for setting him up to be robbed. Sure, you were an accessory to the fact. That is just as serious as the actual robbery, it's considered a consipiracy and in turn all actions done by all involved are the responsibility and the charge of everyone. If they returned the items they stoled from him, then I don't see how he can continue to threaten anyone because it would be his word against yours, he has to prove he lost something and if he has the items back that would be difficult to do. Don't think the fact the guy is a freak and maniac that he won't be credable, just remember, threats are also illegal and if he is trying to extort you and your friends by trying to get things from you in return for not turning you in, then that is illegal as well.
Use your thinking and make sure you get enough evidence compiled in emails and IM's and phone calls if you have caller id or message machine save the numbers and the times etc. You don't continue to have a friendship with people you are proclaiming robbed you, and if you do, than you are not going to get much sympathy from the court. If you have never been in trouble before and this guy is threatening you with these messages, I would go to the police first and explain that there was some bad blood between all of you and to get back at him some of his friends robbed him, but they returned it when they made up but now he is starting to use this as a way to threaten you and your family etc...you know..give it a little flowers. Act scared and go after him first...that is all I can suggest.