ROBBERY DEFENSE LAWYER IN FORT WORTH

ROBBERY DEFENSE LAWYER IN FORT WORTH

Put a Decade of Experience to Work for You

Robbery is defined as the act of taking another person’s property by the use of force or threats. It is usually taken more seriously than a simple theft crime, since threats of violence are involved—especially if the robber uses a weapon to take another person’s belongings. If you were charged with robbery, you need a Fort Worth theft crimes attorney who can work to keep you from a conviction and preserve your freedom!

Call my firm today to discuss your case: (817) 826-9821.

Definition of Robbery Under Texas Law

There are certain elements that must be present in order to convict a person of robbery. Intent to rob must be present; borrowing property is not enough to justify charges. The force or intimidation needs to be concurrent and immediate with the taking of property, not after it is taken; threats of future violence will not affect the charges.

A person can be found guilty of robbery if they:

• Take property from its rightful owner
• Act without the owner’s permission
• Intend to steal property
• Use force or intimidation against the owner

Use of a deadly weapon in a robbery and/or inflicting serious bodily harm during a robbery can elevate a charge to aggravated robbery. In addition, if any bodily harm is inflicted upon a person who is at least 65 years old or disabled, the charge is automatically increased. Both crimes can result in extensive prison time and fines.

The Penalties for Robbery & Aggravated Robbery

While theft is usually charged as a misdemeanor, robbery is prosecuted as a felony in the state of Texas. Depending on the nature of the alleged crime, you could either be charged with robbery or aggravated robbery—both of which are felony offenses. Robbery is considered to be a felony in the second degree, while aggravated robbery is considered to be a felony in the first degree. The penalties for these crimes are as follows:

Robbery (Second Degree Felony)

• Up to 20 years in state prison
• Up to $10,000 in fines

Aggravated Robbery (First Degree Felony)

• Up to 99 years in state prison
• Up to $10,000 in fines

Possible Defenses to a Robbery Conviction

In order to secure a robbery conviction, it must be proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you had taken another person’s property against their will and intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury, or placed them in fear of injury. When pursuing an aggravated robbery conviction, the burden of proof is even greater.

Not only must the prosecution prove that you deprived another person of their property, but they must also establish that you had caused the victim serious bodily injury, used or exhibited a deadly weapon or targeted an individual that was 65+ years old or disabled. In order to combat this charge, your lawyer may use one of many possible defenses.

Possible defenses to a robbery conviction include:

• You are the victim of mistaken identity / you have an alibi
• You did not intend to deprive the victim of their property
• You did not cause or threaten to cause serious bodily injury
• The victim was not in fear of imminent bodily injury
• You were forced to commit a crime while under duress

The specifics of your defense will depend on the nature of the alleged crime. For this reason, it is your best interest to work with a firm that has the experience, knowledge and legal insight to craft a winning defense. Contact my firm to learn how I can help!

Don’t Wait – Schedule Your Free Evaluation Today

With so much at stake after a robbery arrest, you need to make sure you have the Law Office of A. Oliver Hassibi fighting for you. Over the last decade, I have been able to achieve positive results for numerous clients who were charged with crimes in the Fort Worth area, and I can do the same for you. I work tirelessly to keep my clients out of jail and am committed to working toward a dismissal in every case.

FILL OUT A FREE CASE EVALUATION FORM ONLINE TO GET STARTED!