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Philadelphia Robbery Lawyers
The state of Pennsylvania defines robbery as the act of taking property that belongs to another person against their will. Often, the victim is deprived of their property by the use of violence or is seriously injured in the process of theft. Individuals facing robbery charges in Pennsylvania face serious legal consequences that may include hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences.
If you or someone close to you is accused of robbery, it is important to secure the services of a skilled criminal defense attorney as early in the process as possible. This will assure that a competent defense is provided on your behalf and the court is made to acknowledge your version of the events that led to your robbery charge.
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Facts Regarding Robbery in Pennsylvania
Individuals in Pennsylvania can be charged with robbery when they are believed to have intentionally deprived another individual of their property and one or more of the following conditions exist.
- Serious bodily injury is committed against another party.
- The threat of serious bodily injury is made against another party.
- Any first or second degree felony is committed along with the theft.
- Bodily injury is inflicted on another party or a threat is made to do so.
- Slight force is used while the property of another is taken.
The seriousness of the robbery charges directed at a defendant is directly related to the amount of force used to execute the robbery.
- A robbery in the first degree will be charged when a victim or other party is seriously injured during the commission of a robbery.
- A robbery in the second degree will be charged when injuries to a victim or other party exist but are not serious.
- A robbery in the third degree will be charged if force was used to commit the robbery but no one was injured.
Penalties for Robbery Convictions in Pennsylvania
- A third degree robbery conviction in Pennsylvania is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
- A second degree robbery conviction in Pennsylvania is punishable by up to ten years in prison.
- A first degree robbery charge in Pennsylvania is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
All prison sentences for robberies in Pennsylvania can be accompanied by fines.
Steps to Take if Charged with Robbery
If you are arrested under the suspicion of robbery, do not say or do anything to enflame the situation with arresting officers. You will more than likely be held in jail overnight and should not speak of the offense with any police officers before your lawyer arrives. Statements made to the police without a lawyer present are often taken out of context and used in a way that is detrimental to defendants.
A quality attorney will provide a careful review of the case lodged against you and determine what evidence the prosecutor used to charge you with the crime. Much of what your lawyer does next will be influenced by the particular circumstances of your case but he or she will definitely seek to discredit the evidence that threatens your freedom.
Your attorney will interview all available witnesses in your case in an attempt to disprove the two main elements of a robbery case. First, your attorney will seek to prove you did not take property that belonged to someone else against their will. Your lawyer will also work to dismiss notion you were the perpetrator of force or violence during the event.
Get the Help You Need
If you or someone you know in the greater Philadelphia area suffers the misfortune of a robbery accusation, you should not attempt to deal with the problem on your own. The services of a skilled criminal defense attorney dedicated to your cause will be needed.
The law offices of Amato Sanita is committed to protecting both the freedom and future of its clients. The firm can be reached for a free consultation by calling 267-214-2814. The law offices of Amato Sanita can also be reached for a consultation online here.
Being charged with robbery means you are suspected of taking property from a person unlawfully by force or with the threat of force. What makes robbery different from burglary or theft is the issue of force or the threat of force being used. Charges of robbery made against you in Philadelphia should always be taken seriously because the potential consequences are serious.
When you have been charged with robbery, one of the first steps should be to obtain an experienced criminal defense lawyer. This is because the prosecutors job will be to demonstrate that you either intended to take property or were successful at taking property that did not belong to you. The prosecutor will also prove that the property was taken against the victim’s will. A lawyer working on your behalf will gather the information necessary to build a strong defense.
When there is no weapon present during a robbery, the charges are often simple robbery. In the event that you are charged with having a weapon during the commission of a robbery, the charges will likely be elevated to armed or aggravated robbery. When the weapon used can cause life-threatening injuries, the charge is likely to be armed robbery. When a deadly weapon is used during commission of a robbery, the charges are likely to be aggravated robbery. It’s worth noting that the degrees of robbery can vary.
Robbery Charge Defenses
An experienced criminal defense lawyer has many options when it comes to developing a defense for a robbery charge. Which defense is chosen will depend on the circumstances of the case. In some instances, the defense is one of false accusation or mistaken identity. These are defenses often used when someone has been wrongfully charged with committing a robbery. It is often difficult to identify the person who actually committed the crime. As a result, mistakes are made and the wrong person is identified.
Another defense that may be used is claim of right. This is when the individual charged with committing the crime actually believed the property taken was rightfully theirs. A claim of right defense is when the defendant believed in good faith that they were possessing their own property in their own apartment. An example of a claim of right defense is taking a watch that someone is wearing because it appeared to be the exact same watch that was recently stolen. In this scenario, the defendant genuinely believed the watch taken belonged to them.
There is a possibility that charges of robbery will be reduced in the event that the criminal defense lawyer is able to show that there was no force used. They would also need to demonstrate that there was never the threat of force. In cases where there is no disputing the use of force or the threat of force, the defense would need to show that force or the threat of force was necessary due to duress or for self-defense.
Robbery Conviction Penalties
The reason why obtaining a criminal defense lawyer is imperative is because charges of robbery will likely be prosecuted as a felony, which could mean spending years in prison. There may also be felony probation and fines associated with this crime. Depending on the degree of the crime, a conviction can result in consequences that are more severe in the length of time spent in prison.
A good defense requires thoughtful consideration by a qualified criminal defense lawyer that will take time to understand the details of the case. It’s also best to work with someone that has experience with the legal system in Philadelphia.