ROBBERY OFFENSES
Robbery is a very serious charge in the State of Florida, classified as a second-degree felony punishable up to 15 years in prison. While theft and robbery are used interchangeably, robbery requires the State to prove all the elements of a theft charge plus an additional element of “use of force” during the course of the taking.
Specifically, Florida Statutes state:
“Robbery” means the taking of money or other property which may be the subject of larceny from the person or custody of another, with intent to either permanently or temporarily deprive the person or the owner of the money or other property,when in the course of the taking there is the use of force, violence, assault, or putting in fear.
There are many defenses in a robbery charge because in many cases, the alleged victim in the case only had a brief glimpse of the perpetrator or because the individual who took the items fled from the scene of the alleged crime. Additionally, the victim might not have been in fear during the time of the taking or the use of force might have been used well after the commission of the initial theft that the proper charge is only a misdemeanor theft and a battery.
In most robbery cases, depositions will need to be taken of the victim and witnesses who observed the alleged incident as well as of law enforcement who conducted the follow up investigation. If you are charged with the crime of robbery contact the Law Office of Bhavik Patel today and let us start working on your case today.