Riverdale Robbery Lawyer

Many people think burglary, theft, and robbery are all the same crime. However, robbery is a more severe crime in which someone uses force to steal from another person and should be taken seriously. 

When you are being accused of robbery, you should not handle your case alone. You should always consult with a legal advocate who can protect your civil rights. You are innocent until proven guilty and have the right to a strong defense. One of our skilled theft attorneys could help you begin crafting your defense. A Riverdale robbery lawyer can work to disprove the suggested evidence against you and get your charges dismissed or reduced.

What to Know About Robbery Charges

Under O.C.G.A § 16-8-40, robbery occurs when an individual takes property from another person or the immediate presence of another person with the intent to commit theft. Robbery is a felony, meaning that it carries stricter penalties than some other crimes. There are three ways how robbery can occur:

• Use of force: if there is an injury or struggle at the time of taking possession, force has been used
• Intimidating, threatening, or putting another individual in fear of immediate bodily harm to themselves or another: a lesser included offense in the crime of armed robbery
• Sudden snatching: when any other force is used than is essential for the thief to obtain possession of the item from the owner who is caught unawares, and

where there is no resistance by the owner or injury to the owner

Our Riverdale attorneys could make sure the prosecution cannot prove that you are guilty of robbery by poking holes in their argument and offering contradictory evidence.

Possible Penalties for Robbery

A conviction for robbing someone can come with a penalty of one to 20 years in prison. However, if the alleged victim was older than 65 years of age, the jail term increases to no less than five years and no more than 20. If you are convicted twice, you could face a lifetime prison sentence.

Additionally, you may receive probation or a combination of jail and probation. A judge will consider your criminal history, employment, community ties, facts of the crime, and other relevant circumstances. If you have a criminal history, the judge will most likely deem you as not a good fit for probation. If you have a steady job and good ties to the community, the judge may believe that you could complete probation and would be a good fit. 

Our skilled lawyers in Riverdale could fight for you to get the least penalties possible or your case will be totally dismissed.

Defenses at Your Disposal

You have a constitutional right to a defense and to be heard when you are facing criminal accusations. For every charge, there are countless counterarguments at a lawyer’s disposal. For example, some pertaining to robbery could be:

Commission Under Duress

You had no choice and did so because you were threatened. 

Mistaken Identity

The person responsible for the crime was not you. You were innocent and have an alibi or witness testimony that it was not you. 

Justified Seizure of Property

Taking the item by force or intimidation was justified. Maybe you were actually entitled to or the owner of the property or had reasonable belief that you were. 

Lack of Intent

There was no intent. Intent is a crucial part of getting a guilty verdict. If you prove that you lacked the internal determination to take the item, you cannot be found guilty.

Victim’s Unawareness of the Crime

The alleged victim was unaware that they were being robbed. For you to be guilty, they must have realized that you were robbing them before the commission of the action is complete. Instead, you could be found guilty of lesser charges of larceny or sudden snatching.

There are many different potential defenses that you can use. When you have our qualified attorneys in Riverdale on your team, you could have the best defenses to robbery accusations at your disposal.

Contact a Riverdale Attorney About Your Robbery Charges Today

Anyone facing accusations of robbery should hire a qualified lawyer to represent them. A Riverdale robbery lawyer could assist you in your case. Our team could walk you through every step of the way and are prepared to litigate zealously on your behalf. Reach out today for help with your case.