California Robbery Defense Attorneys

What You Need to Know About Robbery Charges

The crime of robbery is defined as the unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of another by force or the threat of force. Robbery is not an offense that should be taken lightly, as the level of force does not have to be great to meet the minimum requirement for prosecution under the law. When a robbery is committed with a firearm or other weapon, it is labeled an armed robbery, which carries with it more severe penalties.

If you are accused of a robbery in California, it is of paramount importance that you contact an experienced California robbery defense attorney as soon as possible. The laws and specifics involved in robbery offenses can be complicated. For instance, the elements that constitute robbery are numerous, they include: trespassing on another’s property, taking of the item or items, carrying them away, the fact that it is another’s property, the intent to steal the items, the presence of the owner of the property, and intimidation. Unless all seven of these elements are present, theft as defined by the law does not occur. The experienced Orange County Robbery Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich can use the specifics of your case to argue against one or more of these elements, thus insuring the best result possible for your case.

Other factors that affect the penalties that can be levied for Robbery charges can include the setting that the crime occurs (in a car, near an ATM, inside a home) and also the status of the victim (a taxi cab driver). In these instances, the criminal charge will be upgraded to a robbery in the first-degree. Anyone convicted of robbery in the first degree could face up to nine years in state prison and up to five years if convicted of second-degree robbery. A robbery conviction is extremely serious. If convicted of multiple counts, a life sentence is possible. If you are not a United States citizen, your immigration status or application for citizenship could be in jeopardy. What’s worse, you could be locked up in prison for the rest of your life, if you are a “third-striker” under the California Three Strikes Law.

Click here for more information on Punishments for California Robbery Convictions.

If you or a loved one has been charged with robbery, call Wallin and Klarich immediately to discuss your case and your options with one of our Orange County robbery defense lawyers. Our main goal is to keep you out of jail. We will do our best to reduce your charges, lower your fines and get you all the help you need.