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Negotiating Robbery to Theft in Arlington

Robbery is a serious offense with serious consequences. A robbery conviction is a felony and could lead to the loss of certain rights and liberties. That is why a person should consult an attorney if they are charged with robbery. The courts will not let a person go to trial without having a lawyer by their side. It is non-negotiable. If a person is charged with any felony, the court will not let them represent themselves. If a person is charged with a misdemeanor theft, the court might allow them to represent themselves but under most circumstances, they strongly suggest that they have an attorney. It does not matter if it is court appointed or privately retained. Negotiating robbery to theft in Arlington is a different task to undertake alone, which is why it is important for individuals to work with a capable robbery lawyer that could advocate for them.

Differences Between Robbery and Theft

Robbery and theft are the exact same in Alexandria, except that a robbery includes elements of violence or the threat thereof. If a person steals something from someone but does not use force or the threat of force to do it then they are guilty of larceny. If there is violence or a threat of violence involved, it does not matter whether the merchandise or property that is taken is worth a lot of money or a small amount of money, it still elevates it to a robbery charge. However, if there are mitigating factors at play, negotiating robbery to theft in Arlington may be possible.

When Can Robbery be Negotiated Down to Theft?

There are certain circumstances where negotiating robbery to theft in Arlington may be possible. This might be because the threats of violence or the violence itself was minimal, or perhaps the government doesn’t feel strongly about that piece and actual violence wasn’t used. Every case is different and circumstances vary but generally speaking, if the threat of violence is minimal and no actual violence was used, and a person has a good record, then there may be an opportunity to plead it down to something that does not include robbery.

Deciding Whether to Take a Plea Deal or Not

Not every case needs to be tried and an attorney should know when it is best to take a plea deal or not in a robbery case. There are some cases where the government might have strong evidence against a person. There are some cases where there might be a confession or there might be irrefutable evidence that a person is the one that committed the crime. Under those circumstances, it would be foolish to take a case to trial, particularly in Virginia cases, so a person will do better pleading guilty and asking the court to set punishment. If a person is tried and found guilty by a jury, the jury will affix the punishment in the case.

This means that a jury will only be able to set punishment at five years to life but under a lot of circumstances, if the judge is affixing the sentence, the judge is going to look at the Virginia sentencing guidelines. If a person has no prior criminal history, the odds are strong that the sentencing guidelines will give them a lighter sentence than what the jury would give them. If it looks like they have a person and the trial is not something they can win, then pleading guilty can save them years in prison.

Contacting an Arlington Robbery Attorney

A person should contact an adept robbery attorney as soon as they find out they are being charged, or conversely if they find that they are being investigated for robbery. If a person’s name comes up in a criminal investigation and they know this, they should contact an attorney. An attorney can help manage the police investigation and an attorney can help dictate if or when a person speaks to the authorities about the charges. It is important to have as much time as possible with a lawyer.  Negotiating robbery to theft in Arlington is difficult to do alone but a skilled legal advocate could help an individual and mitigate the charges that they face.  To learn more, individuals should call today to schedule a consultation.