Armed Robbery

There are crimes, and then there are crimes. As criminal defense attorneys, we are often inundated with clients charged with criminal offenses for extremely minor and laughable crimes. Sometimes people face criminal battery charges for splashing another person with water. People still face criminal charges for possession of a small amount of marijuana. The criminal justice system spends an inordinate amount of time and resources on minor drug offenses and nonviolent crimes. The criminal justice system as a whole receives a lot of criticism based on the lengthy sentences and nonsensical prosecutions of such crimes.

On the other side of the criminal justice system are the real, serious criminal offenses. Burglary, murder, robbery and the like are criminal offenses that result in serious harm to society and serious consequences for those convicted of the charges. These are the types of criminal offenses that can leave victims with physical and mental scars and that society has a motivation to dissuade. Because of the seriousness of such offenses, the penalties and punishments are often enhanced and extremely serious. If you or a loved one has been charged with one of these serious offenses, retaining an experienced St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyer can be essential to obtaining a positive resolution.

Armed robbery is one of the offenses that police, prosecutors and judges take extremely seriously. It is rare that prosecutors will agree to hand out probation sentences to those charged with armed robbery, so obtaining a skilled lawyer who can attack the state’s case is essential. While robbery without a weapon is typically a second degree felony property crime, armed robbery can be charged in multiple different ways and is considered a serious violent offense.

Depending on the type of weapon carried in the course of an armed robbery, it can be charged in two distinct categories. If, in the course of the robbery, the defendant carried a weapon other than a firearm, the robbery is a felony of the first degree punishable by up to thirty years in prison. Weapons other than firearms include knives, tasers or almost any object that can be interpreted by a court to be meant to cause harm to another. If, in the course of the robbery, the defendant carried a firearm, then the robbery is a felony of the first degree punishable by up to life in prison. The potential penalties for armed robbery are extreme. A person convcted could spend his or her entire life behind bars. Don’t let this happen to you, hire a zealous St. Petersburg criminal lawyer today.

Many serious violent criminal offenses are perpetrated between people that know each other. The first person suspected in any murder is often the victim’s significant other or another family member. One of the most common criminal offenses, domestic violence battery, is family-on-family crime. Armed robbery on the other hand, is a crime that is often committed by a stranger to the victim. Because the defendant is often unknown to the victim, identification often becomes an issue in the case. False eyewitness identification has plagued the criminal justice system for decades and can be brough up in your defense if a victim ever waivers in their identification.

When an outright defense to the charges does not seem possible, a skilled St. Petersburg criminal attorney can attack the type of sentence you receive. An effectively argued downward departure motion can convince a judge to sentence you below the minimum penalties that you might be facing in a serious case such as armed robbery.

The attorneys at Hanlon Law have the skills and experience to achieve the best results in your case. We treat all of our clients with the respect and attention that they deserve. Don’t hesitate to call us right away for a consultation at 727.289.0222.