Ellicott City Robbery Lawyer
Robbery, as defined by local law, is the taking and carrying away of the property of another with intent to deprive with the added component that it was done by force or threat of force. For a person to be convicted of robbery, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant took and carried away another person’s property with the intent to deprive that person of the property, and they did so by force or threat of force.
Due to the severity of a robbery charge, a person should look for an Ellicott City robbery lawyer who has handled these types of matters before, has experience defending individuals with this charge, and knows the appropriate strategies, defenses, and steps to take to gain the best result possible. A qualified theft attorney could build a solid defense for them.
Building a Defense
The first step that an attorney might take when building a defense for a robbery charge is to obtain any and all evidence in the case. This evidence could be video surveillance, photographs, recordings, police reports, medical records, and testimony from eyewitnesses. It must be obtained to get a full understanding of the basis of the charges and the dynamics of the situation to start building a proper defense.
Negotiating Robbery Down to Theft
The circumstances under which an Ellicott City robbery lawyer might be able to negotiate a robbery charge down to a theft charge depend on the nature of the incident, the person’s background, and other mitigating factors. Robbery involves force. If a woman puts her purse down on the table and someone grabs it, it is a theft.
If the woman is holding her purse in her hand and a person grabs it and pulls her hand even a little bit, it is enough force to constitute a robbery. Robberies are at the lower end of the scale in terms of severity. In these situations, prosecutors are willing to let the robbery charge go and leave it as a theft.
When to Take a Plea Deal for a Robbery Offense
An Ellicott City robbery lawyer might encourage a person charged with robbery to take a plea deal when the evidence is overwhelming and the prosecution has everything they need to obtain a guilty verdict regardless of the strengths of the defense. In those instances when a defendant can obtain a better result by working on a plea agreement than forcing a trial, a defense attorney may push an individual to seek a plea agreement or a plea deal.
Value of an Ellicott City Robbery Attorney
If you have been charged with a robbery offense, consult a qualified Ellicott City robbery lawyer. Keep in mind that when contacting an attorney about robbery charges, you should have all information available. The more the attorney knows the better suited they are to give a proper response and assessment of the case. There are always going to be certain ambiguities, but building the defense is a fact-finding process. The more information an attorney has at the outset, the sooner they are ready to give an appropriate response and figure out the best strategy moving forward. Work with a seasoned robbery lawyer that could pursue a positive outcome for you.