Anaheim Couple Charged with Robbery for Allegedly Snatching Purse – California Penal Code Section 211

It was recently reported in the OC Register that an Anaheim couple entered a plea of not guilty to charges they stole a mother’s purse from her son outside of a post office in Stanton. Jose Guillermo Bermudez, 28, and Christina Amber Bailey, 19, are each charged with one felony count of second degree robbery on the boy and one felony count of second degree robbery on his mother.  Bermudez is accused of taking the purse out of the boy’s grasp and throwing it to Bailey, who was in a vehicle waiting nearby.
California Penal Code Section 211 defines robbery as the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear. Robbery is classified as a theft crime and it is a serious offense. Felonious taking is defined as the illegal taking away of something.
Robbery is broken down into two degrees. It is first degree when the robbery is committed in the following situations:
1) Against any person who is performing his or her duties as an operator of any bus, taxicab, cable car, street car, trackless trolley, or other vehicle,
2) Every robbery of any passenger which is perpetrated on any vehicles used for transportation for hire,
3) Every robbery which is perpetrated in an inhabited dwelling house,
4) Every robbery of a person while using an automated teller machine (ATM), or immediately after the person has used the ATM, 5) Or the inhabited portion of any other building is robbery of the first degree.

Any other robbery is considered to be in the second degree.  In this case, the defendants are being charged with second degree robbery for the purse snatching.  A conviction is punishable by imprisonment in state prison for up to five years.
If you or a loved one is facing a robbery charge, it is important that you speak with an experienced robbery attorney.  At Wallin & Klarich, our Orange County robbery attorneys have over 40 years of experience.  Our attorneys will defend your rights and assert every possible defense to get you the best possible result in your case.  Call us today at (888) 280-6839.  We will be there when you call.