When a person is attempting to steal something and they cause injury to the victim or the victim is in fear of being injured, the person committing the crime can be charged with robbery instead of theft. If the person uses a firearm, causes serious injuries to the victim, or the victim is over 65 years old or disabled, the person committing the crime can instead be charged with aggravated or armed robbery. These charges are incredibly serious and will require a lawyer to handle the case.
Know the Potential Penalties
Aggravated and armed robbery charges are considered a first-degree felony. This means that if a person is convicted they can be sentenced to up to 99 years in prison and be required to pay up to $10,000 in fines. While not all cases receive the maximum penalty, it is a possibility. The severity of the penalty usually depends on the severity of the injuries to the person or other circumstances that occurred during the commission of the crime.
Why Contact a Lawyer?
Even if a person is guilty, they are going to want to contact a lawyer as quickly as possible to get help for their case. A lawyer can review over every detail of the case to be sure it does fall under the statutes for aggravated or armed robbery instead of robbery. They’ll also review all of the evidence against their client and can have some evidence suppressed if it was illegally obtained or found as a result of illegally obtained evidence. This might not mean the person is free to go, but carefully studying the evidence against the person can help the lawyer convince a judge to allow a plea deal or help the person obtain the minimum sentence instead of the maximum if they are convicted.
Anyone who has been arrested and charged with aggravated robbery or armed robbery will need to contact a lawyer as quickly as possible for help with their case. If you’ve been arrested, you can contact Vinas & Graham today to have them review your case and to see what help could be offered. A conviction can have a lasting impact on your life, so contacting a lawyer as soon as possible is essential.
