Chesapeake Robbery Lawyer

Any criminal charge could change your life forever. In the case of robbery charges, state law looks especially harshly on these offenses. As a violent crime, robbery is always prosecuted as a felony. This means that if convicted, you could spend years behind bars in addition to other tough penalties such as considerable fines. Moreover, a felony conviction can follow you for the rest of your life, from the loss of voting privileges to difficulty obtaining certain types of work.

A Chesapeake robbery lawyer can help you build the most effective defense possible against your charge. A theft attorney can stand by your side through every phase of your case while working to help you secure the most favorable outcome.

Elements of Robbery

The charge of robbery contains several elements, each of which the prosecution must prove in order to reach a conviction in the case. Robbery occurs when a person intends to steal another individual’s property from them, takes it from that individual or in the presence of that individual, and does so against that individual’s will by use of intimidation, violence, or force.

When any of these elements are missing, the prosecution may not reach the required burden of proof. For instance, if there was a lack of intent to deprive the owner of the property, this could be a potential defense against a robbery charge.

If a person did not take the property against the owner’s will, or there was the absence of force, violence, threats, or intimidation, either of these situations could be affirmative defenses against robbery. In some cases, the right defense may hinge on procedural issues rather than proving one or more elements of the offense are missing from the prosecution’s case.

For example, if law enforcement did not have probable cause to carry out the arrest or another instance of potential misconduct occurred, this could undermine the prosecution’s case. Insufficient evidence can also be a potential defense against robbery. A Chesapeake attorney can explore the full scope of available defenses for a specific robbery charge based on the unique facts and circumstances involved.

Penalties for Robbery

A Chesapeake attorney could offer insight as to the prospective penalties for an alleged robbery offense based on the situation. If a person carries out robbery and inflicts serious bodily harm to another, or the incident results in that individual’s death, the crime is a Class 2 felony. A conviction could mean anywhere from twenty years to lifetime incarceration, plus up to $100,000 in fines.

When a person carries out robbery while using or displaying a gun in a threatening or menacing way, the offense is a Class 3 felony. A Class 3 felony could result in five to 20 years in prison, plus financial penalties.

Robbery carried out with the use of force but not inflicting severe bodily harm, or where a lethal weapon other than a gun is used or displayed in a threatening or menacing way, is a Class 5 felony. This offense is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, on top of potential fines.

Even when you are accused of using threat, force, or intimidation to carry out a robbery with no lethal weapon, the charge would still be a Class 6 felony. A Class 6 felony can carry a prison term of up to five years plus a potential fine of up to $2,500. Due to Virginia’s three strikes rule, if you are convicted of three violent offenses, you could be sentenced to life in prison.

Reach Out to a Chesapeake Robbery Attorney

If you have been charged with robbery, you may be frightened and unsure what options are open to you. A Chesapeake robbery lawyer can step in from day one of your case or even before formal charges are filed and immediately get to work on your case.

One of our attorneys can interact with law enforcement, prosecutors, and the court while availing all plausible defenses that can be leveraged to mitigate your charge. Call now to speak with an experienced defense attorney and discuss what may be possible for your case.