Montgomery County Armed Robbery Lawyer

Armed robbery is considered a serious crime in Montgomery County and individuals charged with the offense could face significant jail time and steep fines. If you have been charged with armed robbery, consider consulting a Montgomery County armed robbery lawyer. An experienced criminal attorney may be able to gather evidence and leverage their knowledge of the law to present a strong case on your behalf.

Defining Armed Robbery

In Montgomery County and the rest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, when an individual is charged with the crime of robbery involving a weapon, the person is charged with robbery by weapon, also known as armed robbery. All elements of the robbery charge must be alleged by the Commonwealth before a robbery charge makes it past the preliminary hearing stage. To make the robbery case, the Commonwealth must show an individual committed theft with some sort of violence or threat of violence occurring during the robbery. Thus, the theft is elevated from a misdemeanor-level crime to the felony crime of robbery.

What Does it Mean to be Armed?

Additionally, when going through with the robbery, an individual must use a deadly weapon such as a firearm, knife, bat, or any other weapon that could cause serious bodily injury. Thus, the person may face an additional amount of time with potential supervision upon conviction for the additional charge involving the weapon. Such a crime could be charged as a felony of the first degree, and possession of the instrument of crime may be a misdemeanor of the first degree and violation of the Uniform Firearms Act which might be graded from a felony all the way down to a felony of the third degree.

In all cases, when an individual uses a weapon that could cause serious bodily injury, that exposes the individual to additional time and/or probationary periods on conviction of using a weapon in addition to the robbery charge that might carry up to 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine. A Montgomery County armed robbery lawyer could attempt to mitigate the penalties that an individual may face.

Role of the Prosecutor in Armed Robbery Cases

A prosecutor, as in all cases involving criminal acts, must prove the elements of each crime beyond a reasonable doubt, and armed robbery is no exception. The crime of robbery could be asserted in Montgomery County simply by showing a theft from a person has occurred and that the theft was committed with violence or the threat of violence, however slight. That may elevate a common theft to an armed-robbery charge. The elements of lesser added-on charges also must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the prosecution.

Consequences of a Conviction

The consequences of armed robbery could include as much as 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine on conviction. Such charges may also be coupled with lesser charges such as theft, receiving stolen property, any behavior such as simple or aggravated assault, any sort of possession of a weapon or a violation of the Uniform Firearms Act might easily add an additional 20 or more years for even a first-time offender. Armed robbery is among the most serious of all crimes prosecuted or charged in the area, and courts take them very seriously. A Montgomery County armed robbery lawyer could help individuals fight these charges.

Misdemeanor and Felony Armed Robbery Offenses

Armed robbery is a felony offense that could carry in excess of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine, and more if lesser crimes are added to the armed-robbery charge. Armed robbery plus lesser included offenses may carry jail sentences of 30 years or more and the same period of supervision in most cases. For an individual with a record, it could count as the second or third strike and a possibility in some cases of life in prison with no parole.

Hiring an Armed Robbery Lawyer in Montgomery County

A person charged with armed robbery should hire a Montgomery County armed robbery lawyer with the knowledge and experience in navigating a very complex legal system. Armed robbery is among the most serious crimes dealt with in the area, and Montgomery County courts especially treat them very harshly upon conviction. An individual could easily face a sentence on conviction of armed robbery starting at 10 years and exceeding 30 years or more.