Robbery Attorneys in St. Pete and Pinellas Park
The quality of your criminal defense team can be the difference between freedom and incarceration. If you have been accused of robbery, then you need a skilled and experienced attorney who can help you to fight for your rights.
Oldham and Delcamp is a St. Pete and Pinellas Park, FL, area law firm that gives personal attention to each client. We understand the legal system and we know how to help defendants at every step of the legal process.
What is Robbery?
Robbery is defined as “the felonious taking of the property of another from his or her person or in his or her immediate presence, against his or her will, by violence or intimidation”.
Essentially, robbery is the act of using force, or the threat of force, to take something from another person.
The Difference Between Robbery and Theft
Robbery and theft are similar offenses but the law does make a distinct difference between the two. Simply put, the main difference between robbery and theft is force. Force is defined as power, violence, or pressure directed toward a person or thing and, force must be involved to define a crime as robbery. In contrast, theft is the taking of another person’s property without the use of force.
The law is clear on what defines robbery but, no case is cut and dry. An experienced criminal defense attorney has an intimate knowledge of robbery case law and, they know what questions to ask in order to prepare a strong criminal defense case.
Armed Robbery
Armed robbery is a special case of robbery that involves weapons. Armed robbery cases often involve more strict punishments than non-armed robbery cases.
Steps to Take After You Are Accused of Robbery
If you have been charged with robbery, you should comply with law enforcement officers and call your lawyer immediately. Do not speak with officers of the law or investigators without legal counsel present. Your next steps should be to:
- Collect relevant evidence
- Make a list of possible witnesses that can help your case
- Organize emails, letters, and any other documents that may help your case
Taking these steps will help your lawyer develop a strong defense if/when the issue goes to court.
If you have been accused of robbery but not charged, it is still a good idea to speak to a criminal defense attorney. They can provide advice and be there if you are eventually charged.
Robbery Defense
There are numerous possible defense strategies for robbery cases. These possible defense strategies include:
- Innocence– The accused did not commit the robbery in question.
- Intoxication– Intoxication can be a good defense if the accused was intoxicated against their will.
- Duress– If a defendant is forced to commit a crime by threat, they may be able to use duress as a defense.
- Insufficient evidence– If there is not enough evidence to support that the defendant committed the robbery.
If one of these applies to your situation, you may have a strong defense against robbery charges. Even without these factors, there are still ways for your attorney to defend against the charges, especially if you cooperate with them by being open and honest about the circumstances.
Benefits of Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney
An attorney that can advocate for your rights is especially important considering the possible implications of a conviction. Robbery is a very serious charge to face which comes not only possible jail time and fines, but also can affect your ability to be employed, find the housing of your choice, and fulfill family responsibilities.
Experienced criminal defense attorneys use their knowledge to prepare the best defense and argue your case in front of a judge and jury. Felony cases can last up to twelve months or longer in Florida, a defense attorney can help you to stay calm and make it through the complicated trial process. At Oldham Delcamp, we fight for our clients rights and we do our best to make sure that justice is served.
Oldham and Delcamp’s attorneys have extensive experience in multiple types of law. Our team understands the stress that comes with being accused of robbery and we know how to effectively advocate for your rights and freedom. If you or a loved one are in search of a criminal defense attorney to handle your robbery case, contact us at Oldham and Delcamp to see how we can help you.
