DC Robbery Penalties

In Washington DC, robbery is considered a felony offense. The DC robbery penalties include a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years. A convicted person can also face significant fines and restitution payments to reimburse the value of any property stolen. There may be other fees associated if there were any injuries or medical expenses.

A robbery conviction could also lead to serious long-term consequences. A criminal record could impact an individual’s personal and professional life. Some employees may not want to hire a person who has been convicted of robbery.

If you are facing robbery charges, you should reach out to an accomplished defense lawyer today. Let a dedicated robbery attorney advocate for you.

Proving a Robbery Offense

To secure a robbery conviction, the prosecution must prove that the defendant took property or anything of value from someone else without permission and that they used force, fear, or violence to take that property. A robbery does not have to include an actual injury, physical assault, or use of force or violence. The threat of force or putting someone in fear will satisfy the robbery charge as well.

Felony Charges in Washington DC

A robbery is a felony offense in DC, which means the defendant is looking at severe penalties. A felony is any charge that carries a penalty more significant than one year in jail, and a misdemeanor is any charge with a maximum penalty of one year or less. Robbery has a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment

The main difference between misdemeanors and felonies is the length of the penalty that essentially determines whether something is a misdemeanor or a felony. Felonies are considered more serious, and the idea is that the allegations and the evidence supporting the allegations get a second look from a purportedly unbiased jury to determine if, in fact, the case should proceed. For a misdemeanor case, that process is not available, and a case can proceed on a police officer’s or a judge’s determination that is probable cause for the charges. Again, if a grand jury does return an indictment and the felony charge or charges do proceed, then all the rules about the court process and evidence are the same, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony.

How a DC Lawyer Could Help

The first step a criminal lawyer will do when preparing a defense for robbery is review the allegations and the specific charges. The attorney will speak with the defendant to get more information about how accurate the robbery allegations are. The attorney will look at the evidence and develop an idea of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the government’s case.

The lawyer will then want to see what the defendant’s goals are when it comes to their case. After this, the attorney will develop a strategy as to how to fight the charges in the best possible way to try to attain the outcome desired by the defendant. That can be by conducting defense investigations, collecting evidence, and talking to witnesses.

If you are facing DC robbery penalties, contact an accomplished legal professional today.