Have you been charged with robbery? This is a very serious charge that can change the course of your future. Our Long Island robbery defense lawyer is dedicated to protecting his client’s rights. If you want to meet with attorney Michael Matera for a free consultation, please give us a call right away. Our firm has been defending robbery cases for over 25 years.
What is Robbery?
According to Merriam-Webster, robbery is a criminal charge that is defined as the illegal removal of personal property through the use of violence or the threat of violence. It is a crime that involves imposing fear or harm onto others in conjunction with the theft of their possessions.
In crime shows on television, robberies may involve masked figures holding up a bank at gunpoint for the cash they have on hand. That type of event happens in real life as well.
Robberies may also involve threatening a store clerk with violence if they don’t unload their cash register. A robbery may also be a scuffle between a criminal and a victim for the victim’s purse or backpack.
Degrees of Robbery Charges
The following breaks down what each degree of robbery means. You should call a robbery defense lawyer for a consultation if you are charged with any of the following crimes. Act quickly to safeguard your future.
First-Degree Robbery
If you have been charged with first-degree robbery, you are being accused of causing severe bodily harm to someone while stealing their possessions. You may also be charged with this level of a crime if you were carrying a deadly weapon at the time of the theft. The penalties for first-degree robbery can mean up to 25 years in state prison.
Second-Degree Robbery
Several factors can turn theft into second-degree robbery. If you have been charged with second-degree robbery, it means you have been accused of having an accomplice, injuring a victim during the crime, having a firearm, or stealing a vehicle.
Third-Degree Robbery
This is the least severe charge for robbery, and this is typically an unarmed crime where no one is injured. It is still a serious charge, and you should reach out to a lawyer right away for a consultation.
How a Robbery Defense Lawyer Can Help You
There are four possible robbery defenses we can explore for your case: innocence, intoxication, entrapment, and duress.
The most straightforward defense is that you are innocent of the crime you are being accused of. The opposing side of your case will have to prove that you did this crime, which means they need to provide enough evidence to a jury to convince them that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you were involuntarily intoxicated, meaning someone else intoxicated you against your will, we could use this as a defense for your charges. Typically, this can help you avoid a criminal conviction.
Entrapment is a common defense for robbery. We would have to prove that you did not intend to commit this crime and that it was due to your victim entrapping you.
Being under duress may be a viable defense if you were forced to commit this robbery against your will. This can be difficult to prove to a jury, but it is a possible defense. For this defense to be used, we must prove that you were being threatened with bodily harm or death.
Call Our Long Island Robbery Defense Lawyer Today
Being charged with robbery is not something to take lightly. In nearly three decades of protecting his clients’ rights, attorney Michael Matera has the experience required to represent a robbery case successfully.
Please do not hesitate to give us a call right away if you want to schedule a free consultation. Remember, you are innocent until proven guilty, and working with a skilled lawyer can help safeguard your future.
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