Defending Against Robbery Charges in Connecticut

 Posted on January 11, 2022 in Criminal Defense

Being charged with any kind of theft crime in Connecticut is serious, but when the charge is robbery, the penalties, if convicted, can be harsh. Robbery is defined as taking an item from an individual with the use of force or threat of force. If you have been charged with robbery, you need an experienced criminal law attorney defending you.

Robbery Charges

Robbery is considered a violent crime, which is why the penalties can be so severe. Grabbing property from a victim, threatening them with harm, hitting, kicking, or using any kind of physical force to take an item, or making the victim believe they are at risk of serious injury are all acts that will likely result in a charge of robbery.

Under Connecticut law, the crime of robbery is charged as a felony and the potential penalties depend on which degree of felony the conviction is for:

• First-degree robbery – This is charged as a Class B felony and a conviction could result in a sentence of one to 20 years and a fine of up to $15,000.

• Second-degree robbery – This is charged as a Class C felony and a conviction could result in a sentence of one to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

• Third-degree robbery – This is charged as a Class D felony and a conviction could result in a sentence of one to five years and a fine of up to $5,000.

It is important to remember that being charged with robbery does not mean you will automatically be convicted and sent to prison. There are defenses against these charges that a skillful defense attorney may be able to use to defend you, depending on the circumstances and evidence in the case.

You Have an Alibi

One of the strongest defenses against robbery is that the person accused was not in the area when the crime occurred. If a person can prove they were somewhere else when the crime was committed, it is a significant defense and one the prosecutor would have a hard time proving “beyond a reasonable doubt.” There are a number of ways that a person can prove their alibi, such as cell phone records, witness testimony, credit card receipts, and video footage.

There Is No Proof

A prosecutor may present pieces of evidence that they say proves that you committed the crime. Your attorney may be able to throw doubt on the evidence, as well as the credibility of the police investigation. As mentioned above, the prosecutor must prove that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. All your attorney has to do is show where that doubt in the prosecutor’s case exists.

You Had Permission to Enter the Property

Sometimes the defense to the crime may be proving that what the person has been accused of is a more serious charge than what they actually did. For example, the law says that a person has committed robbery if they entered a property without permission with the intent to commit a crime. The crime of theft, which is a less serious charge, is the taking of property from a place that the accused was allowed to be in (i.e. allowed to be in a retail store but committed an act of shoplifting). If an attorney can prove that the accused had permission to be in the location, the offense would be theft and not robbery, which carries less serious penalties for conviction.

Call a Fairfield County Defense Attorney for Assistance

If you have been charged with robbery, call Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner at 203-348-5846 to schedule a free consultation with a seasoned Stamford, CT criminal attorney and find out what legal defense options you may have against these charges.

Source:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-133