Robbery is a serious offense under state law that may result in very harsh criminal penalties, such as the imposition of high fines and lengthy prison sentences. As a felony, it may strip a defendant of certain constitutional rights, such as the right to be on a jury, own a gun, and vote. These types of cases may require an experienced theft attorney to build a proper defense.
If you were charged with robbery, a Fulton County robbery lawyer could defend your constitutional rights. Let an experienced theft attorney analyze the facts of your case and raise a powerful defense on your behalf.
Under Georgia Code § 16-8-40, the prosecutor in a robbery case must prove certain elements beyond a reasonable doubt. These elements include that the defendant intended to take another’s property from the person or their immediate presence in one of the following situations:
The prosecutor is required to prove each of these elements beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a high standard used specifically in criminal cases that places the burden of proving the allegations squarely on the prosecutor and not on the defendant.
If convicted of a robbery charge, the defendant could face penalties of one to twenty years in prison. If the robbery was allegedly perpetrated against a person age sixty-five or older, the defendant could face a minimum prison sentence of five years up to a maximum of twenty years.
Under Ga. Code § 16-8-41, armed robbery occurs when in the perpetration of a robbery, the defendant uses an “offensive weapon.” An offensive weapon may also include a replica or other device that looks like a weapon or is displayed in such a way as to make someone think the object is a weapon.
An armed robbery charge requires a strong defense with the help of an experienced attorney, as the penalties in Fulton County could go beyond the already serious charges of typical robbery.
If a person is convicted of armed robbery, they could face no less than ten years and not more than twenty years in prison. In some armed robbery cases, defendants face the potential for a penalty of life in prison or even the death penalty. A Fulton County robbery attorney could help the defendant understand what penalties they may face in their particular situation.
A qualified attorney could investigate the facts to determine the criminal defenses which may be available. Motions to exclude evidence, strategies to cross-examine witnesses, and other defense strategies may make a key difference in a defendant’s case. Fulton County attorneys could craft a custom defense strategy tailored to the facts of an individual’s robbery case.
A robbery charge is one of the more serious types of criminal offenses you can face. As a result, you should not risk appearing in court without experienced legal counsel by your side. An experienced Fulton County robbery lawyer could help defend your constitutional rights and protect your interests. Call today.