Baltimore Robbery Lawyer
Being accused of a robbery is a serious deal in Maryland. A robbery conviction could result in up to 20 years incarceration if a dangerous weapon is used, or up to 15 years incarceration with no weapon. A Baltimore County robbery lawyer can help you make sense of the robbery charge, discuss your options, and help you develop a strategy that places you in the best position for success. Do not compromise your freedoms, contact a qualified attorney today.
What is Robbery?
Robbery is considered a theft offense in Maryland. An individual can be accused of committing a robbery if that individual:
- Obtains goods or services by force or threat of force
- Obtains goods or services with no intent to pay
- Appropriates property from an individual’s person through violence or the threat of violence
- Appropriates property from an individual’s person with the intent to return for compensation or to permanently deprive without ever returning
Robbery differs from other theft offenses in that there is usually an element of aggravation that enhances the severity of the crime. A person that shoplifts from a convenience store tends to use deception to remove the goods from the store without detection. An individual robs a convenience store by placing a gun in the cashier’s face and demands that they give them money in order to continue living. Types of robbery offenses also include armed robbery and carjacking, or the hijacking of a motor vehicle by using force, violence, or intimidation. For more on what constitutes as robbery, talk to a Baltimore robbery lawyer.
Potential Defenses to Robbery Charges
There are several defenses to an accusation of robbery, including:
- Lack of Evidence – criminal defendants are innocent until proven guilty in the United States. The prosecution has the burden of proving their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Without sufficient evidence to convict, the jury must acquit. The prosecutor must prove every element of every crime charged. If the prosecutor falls short on any one element, then the charge should be dropped or the defendant should be acquitted
- Duress – if the defendant is under the stress of threats of death or serious bodily injury by another, third party individual, this may be a viable defense the robbery claim
- True Ownership – the taking may not be considered a taking if the defendant actually owned the property that they were accused of taking
- Entrapment – if the defendant only acted the way that they did because of events prepared and instigated by another party for the purpose of prosecuting the defendant, then that defendant may have a limited defense, although it may be extremely difficult to prove
- Alibi – if the defendant could not have committed the crime based upon their whereabouts away from where the incident took place, that defendant may be able to claim an alibi. An alibi may be difficult to prove if the witnesses to the defendant’s whereabouts are close friends or family members, as the jury may think that these individuals are inherently biased
Contact a Baltimore County Robbery Attorney Today
Whenever you are suspected of robbery or any theft-related offense, contact a Baltimore County robbery lawyer to discuss your options. An attorney can give you advice about whether you should take your case to trial or negotiate a plea deal.
In many cases, the prosecutor has many other cases and may agree to a plea deal if the defendant waives a jury trial. The worst defense in a robbery case is an uninformed defense. Call now for an initial consultation.