Chester County Robbery Penalties

In Pennsylvania, robberies are always graded as a felony offense. Therefore, it is essential that an individual charged with robbery retain the services of an experienced robbery attorney in Chester County. Such an attorney can help explain and combat Chester County robbery penalties and mitigate the damage as much as possible.

Types of Offenses

Chester County robbery penalties vary depending on the degree of the charge. There are three ways one may be charged:

• Felony in the third degree (Felony 3)
• Felony in the second degree (Felony 2)
• Felony in the first degree (Felony 1)

A Felony 3 in Pennsylvania is defined as theft with slight force. It can carry as much as three-and-half to seven years’ incarceration. However, with an experienced attorney with the knowledge and background to fight these cases, you can improve your odds. With such an attorney by your side, Felony 3’s cases can often lead to acquittals and, in some cases, dismissals of charges altogether prior to a trial.

A Felony 2 carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ incarceration and a $2,500.00 fine. In these cases, serious charges can come into play when a weapon is used or threatened to be used.

A Felony 1 is charged when there is a threat of serious bodily injury or actual serious bodily injuries. In these cases, sentences often start at five to ten years, and can go as high as 10 to 20 years.

Penalty Enhancements

In Chester County, serious robberies are considered those that are committed with firearms, or where the plaintiff has sustained severe bodily injuries. These charges  often carry sentences in excess of 10 years or more of incarceration.

Due to these severe penalties, it is essential that all available defenses are identified as soon as possible, all alibis and investigations are done, and that an individual feels comfortable with the person representing them. This way, if a serious robbery moves beyond the preliminary hearing stage, the accused can feel confident.

How An Attorney Can Help

An experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to reduce the crime to individual theft, which is a misdemeanor charge. They may also be able to have the charge dismissed altogether. Robberies are always felonies, whereas the majority of thefts are misdemeanors.

Therefore, with the help of a qualified Chester County felony criminal defense attorney, a robbery which would otherwise carry an incarceration sentence can often be reduced to a misdemeanor and/or acquittal. This can then allow you to avoid public embarrassment, interruptions to your employment, and even incarceration in some cases.