Robbery occurs when someone is committing a theft with the intent to maintain control over the property. If that person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to someone else or threatens that person with bodily injury, that makes it a felony. Due to the crime being a felony, it carries severe penalties for the offender. If you are facing Midland robbery penalties, contact a well-established lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced attorney could assist you by standing by your side and providing a defense for your case.
Robbery Consequences in Midland
Robbery is a second-degree felony which means if a person is convicted, they could get prison time of two to 20 years. A person charged with robbery can also get probation for two to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000. Depending on someone’s criminal history, the charge can be enhanced up to a first-degree felony. A first-degree felony carries a penalty of five to 99 years in prison. If a weapon was involved, then the offender would have to serve most of their sentence before being eligible for parole. An armed robbery could result in the loss of civil liberties such as the right to bear arms and the right to run for public office.
Prosecutors Burden of Proof
Prosecutors take robbery offenses very seriously and want to ensure offenders have to face the robbery penalties in Midland. The burden of proof in a robbery case relies on the prosecutors. They have to prove that a theft took place, and during the theft, the defendant intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused an injury to someone, threatened bodily injury, or death to someone. Many prosecutors are new and they may not have the experience handling robbery and other criminal laws. By hiring a seasoned attorney. The defendant could have someone who is experienced with going up against the prosecutors in robbery cases.
Preparing a Defense
A defense attorney starts the defense by talking with the accused person to find out their side of the story. The defendant is going to know what actually happened. The lawyer then takes the defendant’s side of the story to find witnesses. And evidence that supports the best defense possible. If there is no physical evidence in the case. Then the lawyer will take witness statements and look to see if the supposed robbery was captured on video. The defense lawyer can gather the facts of the case and then give the defendant advice on what their legal options may be going forward.
How an Attorney Could Help
If someone is facing Midland robbery penalties, they should seek the services of a criminal defense lawyer who knows the criminal justice system in Midland County and has the experience handling robbery cases. An accomplished attorney is going to know what tactics work in front of the judges and juries. What juries are sympathetic towards, and what wins in the courtroom. A local lawyer is going to be better equipped for robbery cases in Midland than a non-local attorney. If you are facing robbery charges, call a defense lawyer today to get started on your case.