Robbery in Florida is an elevated theft crime that is a felony, with penalties that severely restrict the future of anyone convicted of it. Other acts fall under the umbrella crime of robbery, and these are also felonies. If Belle Isle police arrest you, do not panic but do call our respected theft attorneys for help.
We employ many avenues to reduce the charges filed against you, including negotiating them down with the prosecutor, taking a plea deal, and getting charges dropped in certain circumstances. We could present the prosecutor with exculpatory evidence, such as surveillance footage of someone else committing the crime or a credible witness that can vouch for your whereabouts when the crime was committed. If you find yourself handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser, exert your right to counsel and call a Belle Isle robbery lawyer when you arrive at the police station or jail.
According to Florida Statutes § 812.13, robbery is theft that involves an act or threat of violence in the commission. The elements the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt include taking an asset (such as money or property) from the owner, with the intent to deprive them of it for a short time or forever; and before, during, or after committing the crime, the person used force, fear, or violence as a coercive tactic. So, robbery goes beyond the proverbial stick-up. You do not even need a weapon to be charged with the crime.
“Beyond a reasonable doubt” is the highest standard for proving guilt in criminal law, more so than in civil actions when a plaintiff must prove guilt by the preponderance of the evidence. This means the prosecutor must leave no doubt in the jury members’ minds that you committed the crime, while a Belle Isle robbery attorney attempts to plant the seeds of doubt.
Florida law includes other robbery crimes with heavy penalties. Robbery occurring by suddenly snatching someone’s property, such as a purse, is a third-degree felony if no weapon is brandished, but a second-degree felony if the crime is committed using a visible deadly weapon. Carjacking is the taking of someone’s vehicle from them and is a first-degree felony. If an invader intends to commit a robbery by breaking into someone’s home when they are present, and does complete the robbery, the state will charge them with home invasion, also a first-degree felony.
A robbery conviction brings with it severe penalties dependent on the weapon used in its commission. Using firearms or other deadly weapons is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to life in prison. If Florida does not consider a weapon used in a robbery to be deadly, the charge is still a first-degree felony with a punishment of up to 30 years in prison and up to 30 years on probation as well as a possible $10,000 fine. Convicted robbers without weapons can spend up to 15 years in prison, 15 years on probation, and a possible fine of $10,000. You see how restrictive a conviction for robbery can be in Belle Isle, and contacting an experienced defense lawyer to act on your behalf is crucial.
You have a constitutional right to defend yourself through an experienced attorney in a court of law if you have been charged with a crime that restricts your freedoms upon conviction. We have a consistent history of winning better outcomes for our clients by meticulously building strong defenses, that could include:
Our Belle Isle robbery attorneys pride themselves in the number of clients we have helped, and who go on to rebuild their lives successfully. If you are facing serious charges, call now to discuss your defense.
If Central Florida law enforcement officers arrest you and the prosecutor in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court charges you with robbery, it is time to explore the options you have and the outcomes we can help you reach.
You should not be subjected to police grilling without a criminal defense lawyer present. So do not offer any explanation to an arresting officer until we talk. A Belle Isle robbery lawyer from The Umansky Law Firm is a skilled, compassionate professional ready to build your defense.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
