California Robbery Defense Lawyers

PUNISHMENT FOR ROBBERY CONVICTION IN CALIFORNIA

Are you being charged with robbery in a California criminal court? If so, there are certain things you should know about the crime of robbery.

What is the punishment for robbery?

Robbery whether it is in the first degree, second degree, or even attempted robbery is punishable by confinement in state prison. The exact range of the sentence will depend on the circumstances of the charge. For example, for a charge of robbery in the first degree, a criminal defendant is looking at either 3 years (low term), 4 years (mid term), or 6 years (high term) in state prison. For robbery in the second degree, a criminal defendant is looking at either 2 years (low term), 3 years (mid term), or 5 years (high term) in state prison. More importantly, when a defendant is being accused of voluntarily acting in concert with 2 or more other individuals and commits the robbery within an inhabited dwelling the defendant is looking at possible prison time of 3 years (low term), 6 years (mid term), or 9 years (high term).

What can increase the punishment for robbery?

It is important to keep in mind that each of these offenses is a violent felony, and as such, act as strike offenses. While this doesn’t affect the sentence on the current charge, it may affect the sentence on all future charges. What this means is that if the defendant has a prior strike and picks up any other felony offense, his sentence will be doubled. For example, if the defendant has a prior first degree robbery and gets charged with a second first degree robbery the sentence will not be either 3, 4, or 6 years but instead will be 6, 8, or 12 years in state prison on the second robbery charge.

In addition, the above terms are subject to enhancements which may increase the period of confinement in state prison. For example, in the above paragraph, strikes and how they affect a defendant’s sentence, were discussed. Other factors that may add to a prison term are: whether or not a firearm or other deadly weapon was used in the offense; if the commission of the crime was prompted by gang activity; if the defendant has prior offenses, if the defendant has served a prison term in a specified time before the current offense. These are all factors which may influence whether a defendant gets the low term, mid term, or high term ranges mentioned above.

For these reasons, it is crucial that you hire a California robbery defense lawyer if you are facing a robbery charge. What most people don’t know is that while confinement in state prison is the norm in these types of cases, it is within the judge’s discretion on certain types of robberies, to grant a defendant probation, and sentence the defendant to a county jail term, rather than a state prison term, as a condition of that probation.

Wallin & Klarich has been successful in representing clients charged with robbery for 30 years. If you or a loved one is accused of committing such a crime, call our law firm. We are committed to an aggressive and effective representation. When you have an extraordinary problem, seek extraordinary attorneys at Wallin & Klarich. We are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. We will be here when you call

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