Arlington Robbery Penalties
Robbery is considered a felony in the state of Virginia, and therefore warrant many possible consequences. It can be defined as the taking of someone’s property by use of force or the threat of force. A person facing such charges should research potential Arlington robbery penalties. A diligent robbery lawyer could examine the factors surrounding a person’s case and work to establish a credible defense.
Common Robbery Offenses
A common type of robbery offense occurs when a person goes somewhere and asks for a person’s valuables with a weapon visible. This particular offense could be considered armed robbery and holds serious potential Arlington robbery penalties.
Although robbery is often thought to always to include a weapon to be considered a serious offense, any theft could be considered even without a weapon. A charge could be given any time someone has been accused of taking a piece of another person’s property without their explicit permission.
Arlington Robbery Penalties
If someone is charged with robbery, a person could face five years to life in prison. If there is a firearm associated with the case, the government could add a separate and distinct felony for use of a firearm, which could add three years to the sentence. Having a permanent felony record could impact the rest of the defendant’s life, including employment, relationships, and background checks among other issues.
Attempt or Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
An attempt to commit a robbery means that a person formulated the intent to commit the offense, but did not actually finalize and complete it. If a person is charged with attempted robbery, that is punishable in Virginia as a Class Four Felony which could carry anywhere from two to 10 years in prison.
A conspiracy is a thought offense and it involves planning or deciding to commit the robbery with another person. The planning and the agreement between two guilty people to commit that offense constitutes a conspiracy. If a person is found guilty of conspiring to commit a felony, it is a Class Five felony which is punishable by one to 10 years in prison.
What is the Impact of Attempt or Conspiracy on a Robbery Case?
If a person is charged with conspiracy or attempt to commit robbery, this may change the elements that have to be proven. For an attempted robbery charge, the prosecution must prove there was an actual attempt made, even if the alleged robbery was not fulfilled.
Whereas in a conspiracy charge, the prosecution has to prove that two people agreed to do it. In the absence of proof of a robbery, the prosecution could prove either the attempt or the conspiracy. Both a conspiracy and an attempted robbery charge could be charged by itself without further offense. If the defendants have followed through with the alleged offense, the prosecution is not precluded from charging the defendants with both a conspiracy and robbery charge.
Reasons to Contact an Arlington Robbery Attorney
Dealing with the prosecution on a robbery charge could potentially be difficult to decipher. When building litigating cases, prosecutors may add on a conspiracy charge to gain some leverage in negotiating a plea. In Virginia, this may be complicated to navigate without proper counsel and could be stressful. Contact an experienced robbery attorney and learn about the potential Arlington robbery penalties. A lawyer could review the charges and work to develop an aggressive defense argument.
