Maryland Armed Robbery Penalties

When facing Maryland armed robbery penalties, it can be critical to speak with an experienced armed theft attorney regarding appropriate defenses for your case. Armed robbery is considered a much more serious charge than other simple theft offenses. Therefore, there is a larger importance to speak with legal counsel about how to try avoiding the consequences of alleged theft crimes.

What is Armed Robbery?

Armed robbery is committing theft with force or threat of force with the aggravation of a weapon. A robbery is elevated to an armed robbery when there is the use, display, or brandishing of a dangerous or deadly weapon. A deadly weapon could be considered a bat, screwdriver, crowbar, and anything that can create serious bodily injury.

Elements of an Armed Robbery Criminal Penalties

Armed robbery includes the taking of property away from another with intent to deprive with either the use, brandishing or threatening of a dangerous, deadly weapon. Maryland armed robbery penalties are often serious felony consequences. Because armed robbery is considered a felony, the person found guilty will be considered a convicted felon.

They will be precluded from owning or possessing a firearm for life, can have difficulty traveling out of the country, have difficulty finding employment or finding housing at times because of their criminal record. As the stakes are so high with a felony charge of armed robbery that can lead to decades of imprisonment, it is imperative that an individual seek counsel by someone who has handled these various types of charges before.

Advantages of a Robbery Defense Lawyer

Prosecutors are inundated with cases, have a heavy workload and cannot always provide attention to all the details in a case that they need to. However, defense attorneys have the ability to spend all their time, energy and efforts in building a defense.

An attorney who has handled these types of cases will know how to utilize their time to build a strong, thorough case in the hopes of getting an optimal result for the individual they potentially represent.

Only an attorney who has handled these types of charges before will know how to properly represent the individual and address the very serious charges. They will know the elements, burdens of proof and requirements in going forward, both for the state, and for the defense in addressing the charge.

Consequences of a Robbery Offenses

Before the assignment of Maryland armed robbery penalties, a prosecutor must prove that the defendant took, or carried away, the property of another with the intent to deprive, and did so with force, utilizing or brandishing a dangerous or deadly weapon. If they successfully do so, the individual could face penalties of up to 20 years of imprisonment, which is five more than the maximum for a regular robbery charge.

Importance of Speaking with an Attorney

If someone is charged with a significant crime of a violent felony that could lead to Maryland armed robbery penalties, they should consider hiring an attorney. An individual should hire a local Howard County attorney because they will have the insight as to how prosecutors and judges think, their tendencies, preferences, what strategies may or may not work as every judge, every prosecutor and every court is different throughout Maryland.