Prince George’s County Armed Robbery Lawyer

As defined by Prince George’s County law, armed robbery is a theft with two additional factors. Theft is the taking and carrying away of the property of another with intent to deprive. Robbery is a theft with the added component of force or threat of force. It could be critical to speak with a Prince George’s County armed robbery lawyer if you have been accused of theft with the force or threat of force with a dangerous or deadly weapon. Contact an experienced robbery attorney to learn more about challenging the charge against you.

Armed Robbery vs Theft

The difference between armed robbery and theft in Prince George’s County is that theft is one of the elements of armed robbery. Theft is the taking and carrying away of the property of another with the intent to deprive. Robbery is a theft with the added component of force or threat of force. Armed robbery has the added component of utilizing or brandishing a deadly weapon.

The consequence of armed robbery in PG County is 20 years of incarceration. For a person to be convicted with armed robbery in PG County, the prosecutor must prove that a person took and carried away the property of another with intent to deprive and with force or threat of force by utilizing or brandishing a deadly weapon. Armed robbery is a felony offense that carries 20 years of incarceration. If a person is convicted, they are a convicted felon for life.

Preparing Defenses for Armed Robbery

Prince George’s County armed robbery lawyers prepare a defense differently for theft cases involving a weapon than they would in other cases. They are a theft charge, so lawyers have to explore the theft elements. They have to determine whether the alleged weapon was a dangerous deadly weapon.

Although a gun or knife is dangerous, frequently the weapon is not one of those two but an object that may or may not be a dangerous deadly weapon. For example, a lamp, a flashlight, remote control, and a shoe with a heel can inflict serious bodily injury, but if they are not considered a dangerous deadly weapon, the case is not armed robbery. It is a robbery, which is a lesser offense and carries less exposure to incarceration.

Important Evidence to Present

Besides the weapon, other evidence that a criminal lawyer wants to compile while defending a person charged with robbery includes information about the character of the victim, the background of the defendant, and mitigating factors that could be presented to build the strength of the case. They want all evidence to prove that the defendant is the one that did the alleged acts.

A Prince George’s County armed robbery lawyer might encourage a person charged with armed robbery to take a plea deal when an individual can get a better result and more generous disposition from a judge than if they go to trial. They may also encourage taking a plea deal if the evidence is overwhelming and strong to limit the exposure to incarceration.

Reducing an Armed Robbery to a Theft Charge

It is entirely possible for an accomplished attorney to negotiate an armed robbery charge down to a theft charge. This is what is anticipated during the plea negotiation process. The prosecutor needs people to take plea deals because otherwise, the courts would collapse by the weight of the multitude of jury trials. Therefore, it is common for the prosecutor to be willing to work out a deal with the defendant’s lawyer to bring the charges down to just a theft offense.

Importance of Contacting a Prince George’s County Robbery Attorney

Due to the severity of an armed robbery charge, individuals looking to hire a Prince George’s County armed robbery lawyer should seek someone who has represented defendants facing these types of charges before. A seasoned attorney understands the strategies to employ, the defenses to present, and the motions to file. They understand fully what the state must prove to obtain a guilty verdict.

A criminal lawyer leverages their experience when trying to gain an advantage over the prosecution by knowing the tricks of the trade, the strategies that work, what juries like to hear, and what pitfalls to avoid. Younger attorneys and younger prosecutors may not be fully cognizant of something that an experienced attorney may be able to utilize to their advantage.

Also, it is crucial to hire an attorney right away. From the very outset, a lawyer can assist with someone’s release and represent their interests throughout the legal process.